The DefendDefenders team, led by Janvier Hakizimana, Protection Associate, has commended the African Rural University (ARU) for its strong commitment to promoting human rights through a practical, community-centered education model.
The commendation was delivered during a follow-up engagement with ARU and URDT to assess the progress of trainees who participated in DefendDefenders training sessions in the previous months.
The purpose of the visit was to interact directly with the trainees, understand their growth, and document how they are applying the knowledge and skills gained from the training in their workplaces and communities.

Appreciation of ARU’s Practical Education Model
As part of the visit, the DefendDefenders team toured the ARU campus in Kagadi. During the tour, the team explored ARU’s distinctive approach to education, which emphasizes learning by doing and rural transformation.
The team specifically appreciated ARU’s emphasis on connecting classroom learning with practical community engagement. They noted that this model is critical in equipping students and community actors with relevant knowledge and skills that drive social transformation and strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights.

“ARU education is a blend of technical hands-on education and university and this is what is needed for communities .This is the kind of model that makes human rights practical and alive,” Dr Janvier Hakizimana of the DefendDefenders team noted.

The engagement also provided space to reflect on ARU’s ongoing relationship with the DefendDefenders programme. The team recognized the practical mentorship offered by Stephen Kugonza and Makune, who have continued to support and guide other participants in the programme.

ARU was originally linked to the DefendDefenders programme through KCSON – Kagadi Civil Society Organisations Network. This partnership has created a vital bridge between the university and broader civil society efforts aimed at strengthening human rights awareness, building capacity, and promoting practice at community level.

Both DefendDefenders and ARU reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to ensure that human rights education translates into tangible impact in rural communities. The visit ended with plans for continued mentorship, peer learning, and collaboration to expand the reach of human rights training.

DefendDefenders team led by Janvier Hakizimana(centre), Protection Associate, in a group photo with ARU trainees and staff during a follow-up engagement to assess progress in human rights training and community application

The DefendDefenders team, led by Janvier Hakizimana, in a strategic discussion with ARU and URDT trainees at Veltkamp Coffee Shop. The engagement focused on progress, mentorship, and applying human rights skills in communities

In a productive brief chat with URDT and URDT-I team consisting of Mr Robert Katabazi and Mr Robert Sanday, the DefendDefenders team discussed potential areas of collaboration as the next step