Information
Dissemination
As a networking
and advocacy organization, the Rwanda Women’s Network takes
information dissemination and sharing as a very important component
of its programs. One of the Network’s major achievements was
the documentation in 2001 for replication the Polyclinic of Hope model
in the manual A Guide To A Holistic Approach In Trauma Counseling
In Rwanda:
The Polyclinic
of Hope Experience. The manual production is complete and is
aimed at assisting individuals, organizations and institutions to
better cater for women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence
and their communities by applying the Polyclinic of Hope experience.
The guide has
further been simplified into four booklets drawn from modules in the
manual on raising public consciousness on sexual and gender based
violence (SGBV), health of SGBV survivors, human rights and the law,
and enhancing socio-economic welfare of the survivors and their families.
The booklets, the first two of which are complete, have been simplified
for use by grassroots communities and are in the process of being
translated into Kinyarwanda. To ensure their effectiveness, training
of core trainers is set to be conducted for RWN members, CBOs, other
women’s organizations, church groups and women leaders at the
grassroots. These will in turn train others on use of the guide and
manuals.While the production of the materials is still ongoing, the
main challenge is to produce them in large quantities in order to
distribute them widely. To accomplish this the RWN requires support
to finalise the production and distribution of the manuals.Some of
the strategies currently being employed in information dissemination
include using the media, brochures on RWN and activity reports. SGBV
posters, which will be drawn from the above mentioned guide, are currently
in the making.
It is therefore important that the organisation’s capacity be
developed to effectively implement its programs for the role of facilitation.
In enhancing this ability, international and regional conferences
and workshops provide RWN with important fora for learning opportunities,
networking, solidarity building and establishing working relationships.
Part of the reconciliation agenda is the advocacy programme which
advocates for peace not just in the country, but regionally and internationally.
The programme articulates women’s activities in the country
and promotes linkages with other Rwandan women outside the country
through RWN publications. 
