2025 – From Theory to Practice
Following the theoretical training sessions held in July 2024 in Grand-Popo, Benin, the Healing of Memories Luxembourg Africa Project entered a new phase in 2025: putting the skills acquired by the trainee facilitators into practice.
This fourth year of the project gave the African teams the opportunity to organise and facilitate Healing of Memories workshops themselves, under the supervision of trainers from Luxembourg and South Africa.
Supervised Workshops in Five Countries
The practical training missions took place in two phases.
In July 2025, trainers from Healing of Memories Luxembourg travelled to Benin and Togo. Further missions followed between November and December in Rwanda, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, with the participation of a trainer from the Institute for Healing of Memories in South Africa.
Despite the challenges posed by security conditions in certain regions, the teams demonstrated great adaptability. The facilitators from Mali joined their Togolese colleagues to co-facilitate a workshop in Kpalimé, while the team from Niger took part in the workshop organised in Rufisque, Senegal.
Unfortunately, the particularly difficult situation in North Kivu prevented the team from the Democratic Republic of the Congo from participating in these activities.
Formation pour facilitateurs à Mahama (Rwanda) 
Atelier animé par les équipes togolaise et malienne à Kpalimé (Togo) 
Atelier animé par les équipes sénégalaise et nigérienne à Rufisque (Sénégal) 
Atelier animé par l’équipe ivoirienne à Bingerville (Côte d’Ivoire) 
Atelier animé par l’équipe béninoise à Cocotomey (Bénin)
Learning by Facilitating
In each of the five host countries, the trainee facilitators took part in preparation sessions before welcoming participants to a three-day Healing of Memories workshop.
These workshops gave them the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice, develop their skills and gain confidence in facilitating the different stages of the programme.
Each mission concluded with a day of reflection and evaluation, giving the teams an opportunity to share their experiences, reflect on the lessons learned and prepare for the next steps.
Encouraging Progress for the Future
Throughout the missions, the trainers observed significant progress among the trainee facilitators, both those who were new to the programme and those with more experience.
The teams’ commitment, enthusiasm and willingness to develop local partnerships demonstrate their growing ownership of the project.
This year of practical training also strengthened exchanges and collaboration between trainers from Luxembourg and South Africa, helping to consolidate ties within the Global Healing of Memories Network.
An important step in preparing the African teams to continue organising and developing Healing of Memories workshops in their respective countries.
2024 – Training in Grand-Popo
From 12 to 22 July, 26 new trainees from nine countries in West and Central Africa took part in a 10-day basic training course in Grand-Popo (Benin).
Participants and Trainers Share Their Experiences
Discover the testimonials of participants and trainers who took part in this training session in Grand-Popo.
Preparatory Reflection Work
In preparation for the Grand-Popo session, the teams from the different countries reflected on the wounds of the past and their impact on their societies.