Kijiji Cha Amani is a grassroots initiative that raises awareness on peaceful coexistence, environmental justice, and community resilience in regions affected by violence and ecological degradation, particularly in eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).

The organization plays a dual role:

• Community-based fact-checking and rumor verification, through a network of local ambassadors;
• Advocacy and mobilization on issues such as deforestation, land conflict, climate change, and security, working with citizens, authorities, and NGOs.

"Parachute" Mapping Sessions

A unique feature of Kijiji Cha Amani's approach is the use of "parachute" storytelling workshops — visual and participatory sessions where participants draw their lived environment on a large circular cloth, often shaped like a parachute, to identify relationships between environmental degradation, violence, and community life.

These parachutes become tools for advocacy, dialogue, and local climate education.

Example 1: Rutshuru, "A Forest That Hides Bandits"

In Rutshuru, a 3-hour parachute session helped participants map their daily reality and raise awareness about how environmental and social crises are deeply linked.

Participants depicted:

• A forest and bush zone, where armed bandits hide and attack civilians;
• A former refugee camp, now a deforested military base;
• Agricultural lands and banana plantations, which also serve as local beer production sites, sometimes targeted by bandits;
• Cellular network towers, which participants described as pollutants due to the constant use of fuel generators.

This visual narrative led to a call for the state to combine environmental protection with public safety, emphasizing the need for community-led climate management and improved village security.

Example 2: Kiwanja, "A Safe Forest"

In the rural commune of Kiwanja, a 2-hour parachute session focused on climate change adaptation and deforestation. Farmers discussed:

• Increasingly erratic dry seasons, which disrupt planting calendars;
• A strong local belief that cutting down trees should be a punishable offense, comparable to harming future generations;
• Fears that ongoing deforestation could lead to hunger and land conflicts;
• The urgent need to protect Virunga Park and reforest to stabilize the local climate.

These discussions shifted local perceptions of climate responsibility, stimulated collective reflection, and were deeply appreciated by participants, who requested more such dialogues.

Outcomes and Impact

• Enhanced environmental awareness, rooted in local knowledge and real-life challenges;
• New community narratives linking climate change, security, and justice;
• Empowered community ambassadors engaging in rumor tracking and environmental advocacy;
• Increased citizen engagement in discussions with authorities and NGOs on climate and safety;
• A deeper sense of ownership over ecological futures — one based on lived experience, cultural values, and collective memory.