Activities

Introduction

This page showcases the activities and achievements of Work Package 3 (WP3), which focuses on capacity building in conflict studies for staff and students across partner universities. Here, you can explore highlights from participatory video (PV) trainings conducted in Ghana and Rwanda, as well as in-person capacity-building courses held across all four African partner institutions.

The page features snapshots of collaborative learning experiences, including staff and student exchanges, hands-on training sessions, and cross-institutional engagement. Through photos and brief insights, it offers a glimpse into how WP3 is strengthening skills, fostering international cooperation, and enhancing teaching and learning in conflict studies

Photo of Participatory Video training leader Ian Boxill, Professor at the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) and Adjunct Professor at UBIDS, assisting students from the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) with PV equipment.

Participatory Video(PV) Training at SDD, WA, Ghana

The Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD) hosted an intensive Participatory Video training in Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana, bringing together staff, technicians, and students to explore how storytelling through film can support research, community engagement, and conflict transformation. This page highlights the implementation of the training, showcasing how participants translated theory into practice by producing compelling documentaries that reflect real-life challenges, resilience, and community-based approaches to peacebuilding.

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Participatory Video(PV) Training at PUR, Huye, Rwanda

This page highlights the successful implementation of a 12-day certificate training in Participatory Video Making at the Huye campus, where staff and students were equipped with creative and inclusive tools to engage communities, document lived experiences, and stimulate dialogue around real-world challenges. By combining hands-on filmmaking with participatory approaches, the training demonstrates CONMAT’s commitment to strengthening academic capacity while fostering meaningful community engagement and locally grounded solutions.

Dive into the PUR Participatory Video experience

In Situ/In person Capacity Building Courses at UR, Kigali, Rwanda

At the University of Rwanda, capacity building goes far beyond the classroom, it is a transformative journey into the heart of conflict, peace, and reconciliation. Students and academic staff engaged in dynamic, hands-on learning experiences that blended cutting-edge teaching, practical research methods, and real-world exposure.

From interactive courses led by international experts to powerful field visits at sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Kayonza Reconciliation Village, participants explored the complexities of conflict and the pathways to sustainable peace. These activities did not just build knowledge—they inspired critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper understanding of reconciliation in action. This is learning that connects theory to reality—equipping future leaders with the tools to shape more peaceful and resilient societies.

See the Capacity Building in action at UR

In Situ/In person at UR, Kigali, Rwanda

In Situ/In person Capacity Building Courses at PUR, Huye, Rwanda

The in-person capacity building activities at PUR offered participants an engaging blend of interactive learning and cultural immersion. Through dynamic sessions, participants strengthened their understanding of conflict, peacebuilding, and the role of education in shaping inclusive societies. This academic experience was enriched by a visit to the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza, where Rwanda’s history came vividly to life—from the reconstructed royal palace of Yuhi V Musinga and the iconic Inyambo cattle to the contrasting colonial-era residence of Mutara III Rudahigwa. Together, these moments created a powerful space for reflection, connecting past and present while deepening insights into leadership, identity, and social transformation.

See more about the activities in PUR

In Situ/In person at PUR, Huye, Rwanda

In Situ/In person Capacity Building Courses at UG, Accra, Ghana

The capacity-building activities hosted at University of Ghana in Accra brought together students and academic staff in a dynamic learning environment focused on conflict analysis, innovative teaching methods, and peacebuilding strategies. Complementing the interactive classroom sessions, participants engaged in field-based learning through visits to Chorkor in the Ablekuma South Municipality and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. These field experiences provided valuable exposure to urban conflict dynamics, grassroots peace initiatives, and Ghana’s national liberation history, enabling participants to connect theoretical insights with real-world contexts of community resilience, governance, and identity formation.

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In Situ/In person at UG, Accra, Ghana

In Situ/In person Capacity Building Courses at SDD, Wa, Ghana

The capacity-building programme held at Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Wa, Ghana, offered a rich blend of theoretical and experiential learning for both students and academic staff. Beyond the dynamic, hands-on classroom sessions that introduced cutting-edge teaching approaches, participants engaged in field-based experiential learning under the leadership of SDD, with visits to the National Peace Council Regional Office in Wa, the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, and the Wa Naa’s Palace. These engagements provided practical insights into Ghana’s peacebuilding and governance systems, enabling participants to critically explore the interplay between formal state institutions and traditional authorities in conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

See more about the activities in SDD

In Situ/In person at UBIDS, Wa, Ghana