SOS Rwanda Burundi
The non-profit organisation SOS Rwanda-Burundi was founded in 1996 by a group of Belgians having lived and worked in the African Great Lakes Region. SOS R-B ’s experience in the region is very intensive through the presence of some of its members in Congo since 1962, while others experienced the ethnic segregation which, in Burundi, ended in massacres since 1965. SOS R-B is also a direct witness of the sad events of which Rwanda was a victim in October 1990. The association is an apolitical group and its object is to transmit clear information about the African Great Lakes Region, involving as much as possible the international community. SOS R-B aims at providing a clearer vision of events rather than distorted media representation which, according to SOS R-B creates a severe intellectual gap. The association’s activities mainly target Belgian and European political decision makers, to whom the organisation frequently addresses high-quality publications. SOS R-B encourages actions aiming at putting an end to massacres in Africa and restoring the dignity and most elementary rights of the local populations. That is why one of the core principles of SOS R-B is to enable Africans “without a voice” to express themselves. The organisation relies on an extensive network of contacts within the transnational communities from the Great Lakes Region, both in Brussels and in Africa. All of SOS R-B ’s work makes frequent use of this network and the expertise of the involved individuals. SOS R-B is strongly committed to universally-recognised human values such as a) democracy and Human Rights, b) equitable justice for all, c) right to economical, cultural, social and individual development, d) territorial integrity and right to self-determination. Within INFOCON, SOS R-B will participate in the consortium meetings and be actively involved in the case study on the Great Lakes transnational community in Brussels.
vzw SOS RWANDA-BURUNDI asbl
Rue Paul Pastur 31 B – 6230 BUZET
Tel. / Fax : + 32 71 84 59 31
E-mail : sos.rwabuco@skynet.be