In June 2025, Pax Christi International (PCI), in collaboration with USUMA, held a workshop to evaluate the impact of our project Empowering Religious Sisters in Burundi and gather reflections from the field.

The evaluation brought together participants from the four dioceses involved, Bujumbura, Gitega, Ngozi, and Ruyigi, alongside PCI representatives, project staff, and guests.

Key Results

Fifteen trainer sisters shared the outcomes of their work, presenting powerful stories, survey data, and personal testimonies. Over the course of five months, these sisters trained:

  • 1,791 religious sisters and postulants

  • 4,865 young people

These figures far surpassed the project’s original targets, which had aimed for only 200 sisters. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Through both written surveys and video testimonies, the impact of the project was evident. An impressive 91.5% of trainees reported improved knowledge of active nonviolence, and 83.5% gained greater skills for resolving conflict peacefully.

Deepening Local Leadership

Many trainer sisters have gone beyond expectations, offering training to local police and military, extending their outreach to Tanzania, and even launching peace clubs and new sessions for community mediators and local leaders.

Despite the official end of the project on May 31, the trainer sisters remain committed to continuing their work voluntarily. Their efforts are not only helping individuals but are transforming entire communities into spaces of dialogue and reconciliation.

Reflecting on the Journey and Looking Ahead

Each diocesan group shared their journey through presentations, open discussions, and heartfelt feedback. The Africa Regional Coordinator of PCI, Mr. Dieudonné Serukabuza, also presented an overview of the project’s wider vision, connecting local achievements to PCI’s broader mission of active nonviolence across the continent.

In their closing remarks, USUMA and the trainer sisters strongly recommended expanding the programme to all dioceses in Burundi, and extending training to novitiates, seminaries, local leaders, and youth groups.

We’re deeply grateful for the dedication of our partner USUMA and the unwavering commitment of the sisters who continue to carry this work forward. Their leadership is a testament to the power of Gospel nonviolence in action.

Click here to read more about the project

Click here to read more about the mid-term evaluation