Christian Cito Cirhigiri

Short Bio

Christian Cito Cirhigiri is a Congolese peace journalist, activist, and researcher with 8-years’ experience supporting youth participation in peacebuilding processes in eastern Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Colombia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Community Development from Daystar University in Kenya and a master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame in the US. He is the founder of Peacemaker 360, a communication nonprofit that connects young peacebuilders worldwide through storytelling.

Education

• Ghent University, Faculty of Law and Criminology, 09/2019 – ongoing: Doctorate of Law
• University of Notre Dame, KROC Institute of International Peace Studies USA, 08/2014-05/2016: Master’s in International Peace Studies
• Daystar University Kenya, 01/2007- 06/ 2010: Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Community Development

Professional Positions

• Ghent University, Human Rights Centre, 09/2019-ongoing: PhD researcher
• Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Colombia, 01/2019 – present: independent Consultant
• Peacemaker 360, Global, 02/ 2016 to present: Founder   ACDI/VOCA ,Colombia, 06/ 2018- 12/2018: Reporting Specialist
• Bukavu Youth Action Center (BYAC),  DR Congo, 01/ 2012 – 02/2017: Co-founder/Co-director
• Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), DR Congo, 02/2013 – 05/2013: Independent Consultant
• Inter Church Cooperation for Development (ICCO) , DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, 09/2011 – 11/2012: Program Assistant

Featured Publications

• 2019, Youth and Peacebuilding: Key insights and lessons from a global online consultation,
• 2016, Student movements and societal accountability for ethnic reconciliation in eastern Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi,
• 2016, Exegetical analysis of “ Between Vengeance and Forgiveness by Martha Minow,” University of Notre Dame Peace Studies Watch
• 2015, When the medical meets the cultural: Towards an integrated treatment of victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo: Case study of the Panzi Hospital, University of Notre Dame Peace Studies Watch
• 2015, Towards coalition building of arts-based initiatives for peacebuilding in eastern Congo
• 2015, Five resilience lessons of a child living through the eastern Congo wars, University of Notre Dame Peace Studies Watch