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This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that assessed how effective multi-family healing spaces (MFHS) were at increasing family resilience, community trust, and individual healing. The RCT rigorously tested and measured the impact of this culturally adapted intervention in a number of different Rwandan communities affected by the genocide against the Tutsi. The MFHS programme was launched by Interpeace in collaboration with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention and implemented with the support of the Rwandan government. It was funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).
MFHS have been proven strongly effective in resolving intrafamily conflicts, enhancing communication and problem-solving skills and building family cohesion and resilience. It is also effective in addressing intergenerational trauma through parent-child dialogues and promoting positive parenting.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that assessed how effective multi-family healing spaces (MFHS) were at increasing family resilience, community trust, and individual healing. The RCT rigorously tested and measured the impact of this culturally adapted intervention in a number of different Rwandan communities affected by the genocide against the Tutsi. The MFHS programme was launched by Interpeace in collaboration with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention and implemented with the support of the Rwandan government. It was funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).
1. BACKGROUND
The genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 left an indelible mark on Rwandan society and caused the deaths of over one million people. It touched every level of Rwandan life: individuals suffered deep psychological wounds, families were disrupted, and community trust was fractured, giving rise to collective trauma. This legacy has had a lasting effect, in terms of post-traumatic stress, depression, and other mental health challenges that continue to affect Rwandans today. The 2018 Rwanda Mental Health Survey found that over 20% of Rwanda’s people struggle with mental health issues, though fewer than 6% of affected individuals access mental health services.
A particular challenge has been the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Parents who lived through the genocide often struggle to process their experiences, and their children are more likely to show symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and other psychological problems. Young people tend to internalise or even perpetuate the pain and mistrust of previous generations, especially in households where parental trauma has not been resolved. Families in these circumstances find it difficult to form healthy relationships or reconcile with the past.
In communal societies like Rwanda, psycho-social well-being is deeply rooted in family and community structures. Family provides the closest support system for Rwandans, and influences individual resilience and mental health outcomes. Historically, nevertheless, most mental health programmes have focused on helping individuals, which has left a significant gap in healing processes, since the trauma experienced by a family member reverberates throughout the household, affecting overall family dynamics and resilience. Recognising this, the MFHS model shifted the focus from individual treatment to a more integrated approach that considers family and community healing to be a central component of post-conflict recovery.