We are witnesses to horrendous acts of  violence in its various forms in Zimbabwe, especially in the aftermath of the birth of vibrant opposition not so long ago, with blatant disregard of  the citizenry's "very basic rights" whilst the perpetrators of the violence are walking scot-free. Dialogue for Peace Initiatives in Zimbabwe is an unregistered trust that  has been battling to get registered in Zimbabwe that aspires to foster a culture of peace; tolerance; respect for human rights whilst creating a well informed society that addresses its differences and challenges through non-violence means.

The trust is was formed by the alumni of the Equitas' Internship for Human Rights Training Program - Canada; All Different All Equal Stausbourg Training; National Movement of Catholic Students in Zimbabwe; Catholic Society (University of Zimbabwe); the Students' Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace; Catholic Students Making Spiritual Strides;Zimbabwe National Students' Union; and Flash Network after realising the low participation of Students in civic matters and should they participate, their use of violent means of airing grievances as opposed to the non-violent means of conflict resolutioning; the lack of both knowledge and interest in students' rights and indeed Human Rights in general. In spite of its heavily Catholic ancestory, the trust is "very ecumenical" and dose not discriminate against other religious denominations.

DPI Zimbabwe therefore; runs programs collaboratively with a coalition of other implementing partners to empower students and even non-students with proper leadership skills; students'; human rights and HIV/AIDS knowledge;skills; resources and opportunities they need  so as to become "concerned citizens" and successful agents of change in their various students' groupings and communities at the end of their college programs.

Through its Zimbabwe Youth Society for Human Rights Program; the Trust has secured a Resources Corner within a students' house just outside the University of Zimbabwe environs, a stone's throw away from campus, where many students always tread for the nights; during spare time and weekends. We hope to establish a full-fledged Resources Centre in the coming months should we secure enough room. The resource centre is fully furnished with material on Human Rights; The Universal Declaration of Human Rights documents; The Human Rights Treaties; Charter & Conventions;  newspapers and material sourced from volunteers such as Kubatana.net;Jesuit Communications;Office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner;news agencies; Centre for Victims of Torture;Silveira House;Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference;MISA Zimbabwe;Solidarity Peace Trust;SafAids and the Jesuit Aids Project amongst a host of other providers. A noticeboard that we put up in our corner where opportunities for Human Rights studies; fellowships scholarships and human rights news has proved very popular with students and plans to go a step further and install internet; photocopying and printing facilities for students at subsidised or "almost free" rates is underway.

The project has also run successfull discussion forums and talkshows; on various isssues that students groupings bring to the fore in Thursday Night Chit-Chats - an interactive show that uses participatory techniques to ensure maximum participation of attendees. The shows have attracted a number of civc leaders; religious leaders and activists such as Dr. Lovemore Madhuku; Ms Amanda Atwood; Fr Ugenio Phiri; Mpumelelo Moyo Macgurry Mandebvu and others. Whilst events are chiefly designed by the students, DPI takes care of all the logistical needs. Two houses in Masvingo's Rujeko and Morningside Suburbs have since been identified in very close proximity to the Great Zimbabwe University' s two Campuses.