Burundi
Forty associate members of the Family of the Disciples of Christ (FDC) Institute, from the dioceses of Bururi, Bujumbura, Rutana, and Ruyigi, took part in a training session on Active Nonviolence (ANV).
Held from August 17 to 18, 2026, at the Buta Minor Seminary in the diocese of Bururi, headquarters of the Institute, the training aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in conflict prevention and peaceful management, both within their families and in professional and community environments.
The session was led by a religious sister of the Family of the Disciples of Christ. It falls within the shared mission of the Institute and its lay associate members: to promote and accompany Basic Christian Communities so that they become witnesses of God the Father’s love.
Associate members called to be artisans of peace
The forty participants included 11 men, 15 women, and 14 unmarried young women. Through this training, the FDC Institute intends to provide its associate members with practical tools to better understand the mechanisms of violence, prevent conflicts, and seek solutions rooted in dialogue, justice, and reconciliation.
The teachings focused particularly on Active Nonviolence as an alternative to violence, conflict prevention and management, reducing negative consequences, and building relationships based on equity and mutual respect.
The training also addressed trauma healing, with particular attention to how the body reacts to stress and traumatic experiences. Participants were sensitized to ways to better cope with trauma and its effects.
Other topics explored included Nonviolent Communication (NVC), forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Starting nonviolence within oneself
At the end of the session, several participants expressed their satisfaction, stating that they had gained knowledge and tools capable of transforming their approach to managing tension and conflict.
According to testimonies gathered, the training notably helped strengthen self-confidence and trust in others, while developing the personal and professional skills needed to handle conflict situations in daily life.
Pierre Niyonizigiye: «The teachings received will help me better fulfill my mission»
Niyonizigiye, a catechist from the parish of Rutovu and head of the Ubushingantahe institution, particularly appreciated the topics addressed during the training.
«As a catechist and head of the Ubushingantahe institution, I meet many people. The teachings received will help me better fulfill my mission of assisting others in managing conflicts peacefully».
According to him, this training allowed him to discover new strategies to contribute to building a more peaceful, just, and fraternal world, starting with himself.
He also stated that he was deeply moved by the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation, especially through the example of Nelson Mandela. In his view, seeking the roots of a conflict and helping others break free from hatred and resentment is a crucial path toward peace.
At the conclusion of the training, Niyonizigiye committed not to perpetuate violence and not to respond to violence with violent means, favoring dialogue, searching for the root causes of conflicts, and peaceful resolution pathways.
Félicien Ndayiganyiye: «It is urgent to sow justice and truth»
For Félicien Ndayiganyiye, the teachings received are also a tool to live nonviolence more fully in daily life and transmit it to those around him.
He emphasizes that, among the main sources of conflict identified by participants, injustice holds a significant place.
«It is urgent to launch a strong appeal to sow justice and truth».
Félicien Ndayiganyiye also encourages people in conflict to sit together and prioritize dialogue to find shared solutions to their problems.
Training part of a broader journey
This training session for associate members complements the one held in April 2026, during which 94 religious sisters of the Family of the Disciples of Christ were trained on the same topics.
Through these various sessions, the FDC Institute continues its commitment to promoting a culture of nonviolence, dialogue, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
The training of associate members also represents a major step in fulfilling the common mission between the Institute’s religious sisters and lay associates. By strengthening their capacities, the Institute aims to make them active agents capable of contributing—within their families, workplaces, and communities—to the prevention of violence and the building of more fraternal and peaceful relationships.
With this initiative, the Family of the Disciples of Christ reaffirms that nonviolence is not limited to theory: it begins with personal transformation and is expressed through relationships with others.
Photo by Sister Gaudence Nininahazwe
