VOICES FROM THE FIELD: Alexandra Jacobs in DRC

Alexandra Jacobs is a intern with Search for Common Ground Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known locally as Centre Lokolé

The troupe freezes in a pose before asking for audience input on what decisions the characters should make.

During my first week here in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo I had the good fortune of witnessing two commemorative events in which Search for Common Ground (or “Centre Lokolé”) took part.  The weekend’s events were especially exciting because the members of l’Association de Soutient des Opprimés (ASO – Association for the Support of the Oppressed) are children who have taken part in the conflict as child soldiers, or have been orphaned during the war.

Tuesday, June 16 was Day of the African Child across the continent.  Here in Bukavu, the emphasis was placed on the rights of the child with special attention to the issue of child soldiers in the ongoing conflict and the sexual exploitation of children in conflict areas.  Along with the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUC), Search for Common Ground organized an event complete with drumming performances, poetic recitations, and musical performances, all presented by local children’s groups and schools.  The banner hung across the stage read “La Survie de l’Afrique c’est nous les enfant.  Notre survie d’aujoud’hui depend de vous”  (The survival of Africa is we the children, our survival depends on you [the adults]).  The event’s emcee, Centre Lokole journalist Laurent Wabatinga, declared that the official language of the day would be Swahili, to emphasize the importance of the African child, the honorees of the day.  The symbolism was not lost.

Saturday, June 20 was World Refugee Day, and Search for Common Ground once again played a large part in these commemorations, in partnership with UNHCR. The slogan for the day was “Des vrais besoins pour des personnes bien réeles” (real needs for real people).  This statement gets to the core of the ongoing tensions within Congolese communities with regards to refugees who arrive as newcomers and are often mistreated.  Over the weekend, the talented drumming/theatre troupe of SFCG’s partner l’Association de soutient des opprimés (ASO) put on several performances of participatory theatre to educate different communities about refugees’ needs and rights.  I accompanied the group of teenagers and their troupe leader to a neighborhood in Bukavu called Bagira where many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have come to settle temporarily as violence continues to wreak havoc on their communities north of Bukavu.

The theatre troupe arrived just after 1pm, and though they had not advertised their performance, a large and attentive audience of children quickly assembled in the town’s main square.  The troupe, whose talented musicians and actors range from the age of 8 to 18, quickly began their drumming routine.  Once they had fully captured the attention of the audience they moved on to a comical yet informative sketch in which five actors depicted the arrival of a refugee into a community, while the permanent inhabitants struggled over how to receive this newcomer.  Pausing every now and then for audience input, the five actors changed the narrative of their piece according to the advice given by young audience members, encouraging active participation among all.

These events illustrated that through artistic self-expression, the actors (and the audience members they touch) have found a new mission for their lives, as well as a way to educate their peers.  It was a thrill to be part of such a transformative and exciting event.