The Rev. Dr. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, the Legal Representative and Dean Superintendent of Burundi Annual Conference, has officially opened a five-day workshop for women leaders from different denominations and religions that started from 5th to 9th August, 2024 at Songa Conference and Vacation Village in Gitega capital city.
A training workshop was organized for women leaders from different denominations and regions in Burundi by the Women United Methodist organization supported by all Africa Conference of Churches.
The training workshop was opened with prayer by Madame Odette while the scripture reading was delivered by Rev. Violete MUCOWINTORE from UMC Bujumbura District, Mark 7: 20 – 23.
The Women Methodist coordinator Madame Godelive MANIRAKIZA thanked the Almighty God for safe travel of participants and guests of honor present. She also expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Rev. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, the Dean of Superintendents of Burundi Annual Conference for officially agreed to participate in the opening ceremony of such training workshop despite his many responsibilities. It should be noted that seventeen participants, women leaders at national level from different churches attended the workshop.
According to the Women Methodist Coordinator, the facilitators will focus training on; Some notion about Gender-based violence, understanding the meaning of stress and how to avoid it through churches’ counseling, personal and group information exchange on trauma, the skill of listening to the victim of trauma, engagements and recommendations on healing trauma.
The facilitator Mr. Athanase NDIKUMANA briefed the main causes of trauma where he noted that, the most of negative events result from mentally hurt by something that has happened to a person which later causes stress disorder. The facilitator wonders what Christians are waiting for because accepting Jesus Christ in someone’s life as the best solution to combat trauma.
The Rev. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA, the Dean of Superintendent of Burundi Annual Conference during opening speech thanked, Women Methodist Organization, National Council of Burundi and All Africa Conference of Churches for their support which has greatly contributed to the effectiveness of the churches ministry in Burundi. He also thanked all participants who attended the training and in particular the organizers who made this training workshop possible.
He also recommended churches and religions to establish special departments to heal the traumatized and prepare such workshop for men as they also have similar problems. The Reverend emphasized that such departments will be able to help the victims because some churches and religious often do not have specialists for healing the traumatized.
Women leaders in attendance were from the following denominations and religions: the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Fraternity of Christ Church in Africa, Islam, the Salvation Army Church, Free Methodist Church, Webb Baptist church, Friends Evangelical church, Anglican Episcopal Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church.