Disarmament, Demobilization & Reintegration – DDR

RET Programming 

Since 2012, RET has participated in DDR processes targeting adolescent soldiers in South Kivu (2012-2014) in conflict zones such as Fizi and Kalehe; North Kivu (2015-2020), Walikale, Rutshuru, and Masisi with programs meant to reintegrate former adolescent combatants back into their communities, while preventing future recruitment. The programs have gained recognition by the local Government through the Executive Unit of the National Program of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (UEPN-DDR), and the national army. To date, RET has implemented 17 successful Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration programs. 

RET DDR intervention begins with prevention and sensitization of communities as well as reaching out to armed group leaders through grassroots partners who are community members and well respected by the community. Using the Convention on the Rights of the Child tool and the Child Protection Act 2009, RET has been able to sensitize communities and militia group leaders resulting in the release of children in reached armed groups. RET´s staff are highly experienced in child protection matters, particularly in DDR. Moreover, RET´s staff continually receive training from MONUSCO and EUPNDDR on matters concerning DDR and child protection. They thereafter conduct training for stakeholders in the communities of intervention on issues related to DDR and child protection. Before demobilization takes place, RET starts by informing community members of the intention to seek the release of youth soldiers from armed groups and request their support. RET works closely with the community and has earned respect on account participatory approaches used in engaging the community in project implementation. The rehabilitation at the CTO enables youth to overcome trauma, attain a trade skill, or attend classes which enable them to go back to school or start a small businesses. Meeting the needs of youth or at least filling in the gap that led them to join armed group enables RET to achieve successful reintegration and retention.  

Then what follows is the disarmament of child soldiers by FARDC and UEPNDDR, the governmental body responsible for DDR processes. After this step, RET starts the rehabilitation of these ex-combatants in the CTO over a period of three months. During the rehabilitation process the demobilized youth are provided psychosocial and medical support to address the traumas faced while in the armed groups. During the rehabilitation it has been observed that children released from armed groups often display post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Youth show more emotional and behavioral problems often feeling the need to be perfect and experience headaches, nightmares, worries, stomach aches and suicidal thoughts. The diagnostic criteria for this disorder would be emotional and physiological attachment disorder, reaction and persistent changes in attributions and expectations. To provide the requisite support, RET has a strong team of experienced psychologists, medical, admin, program, social workers, and finance staff ensuring impact and successful outcomes. 

Upon completion of the rehabilitation youth are integrated back into their community with a certificate indicating they are no longer associated with armed groups as well as with exit kits to enable them to start a small business. The exit kits are given to youth according to the training they received at the CTO. Youth that decide to return to school receive education materials such as school bags, exercise books, pens, uniforms, and shoes to enable them start their school year. RET also pays their school fees for one year. Youth that have acquired skills in certain trades, such as baking, barber or salon skills receive start-up kits which aid their starting of small business enterprises. For bakery, their kit is composed by wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, yeast, casserole, basin, etc.  For haircut, the kit is composed by one haircut machine, generator, fuel, mirror, battery, etc for boys and napkins, hair dryer, latex gloves, dye caps, disinfectant wipes, hair clips, brushes and combs for girls to enable them start their IGA back home. 

RET’s approach also involves preventing the recruitment of children and youth into armed groups by targeting key stakeholders and community members with specific training and awareness raising activities such as trainings, group discussion, radio, and signing of commitment letters. A sustainable reintegration of the rehabilitated youth is anchored on follow up support in education and trade training of the vulnerable youth within the community. The community also participates in Peace Projects and is also reached through radio broadcasts with peace messages.