I finally arrived in Kigali yesterday, and as the rest of my team had arrived the day before, I jumped right into it. We visited the genocide memorial. There are memorials all over the country, but this one is the largest with over 258,000 buried. Just for a moment, imagine if over one tenth of all Canadians were to be murdered by mid-November. That’s what these people survived. They are still finding new bodies, so they continue to build mass graves (pictured). The memorial is set up as a museum documenting the events leading up the genocide, honouring the children who were murdered, and telling the stories of this century’s other genocides.
Yesterday was wrapped up at the Hotel Milles Calliones (Hotel Rwanda). Not where the movie was filmed, but where the actually events took place.
Today was absolutely amazing… unfortunately, my camera decided to stop working, so I don’t have many pictures to post. (My team is made up of a bunch of shutterbugs, so I’m not too worried. You will just have to wait until after my trip to see the pictures.)
First, we went to the World Vision Nyamata office and heard a little about the projects they are managing:
1) Sponsorship (2800 kids)
2) Education
3) Healing, Peace building, and Reconciliation (pertaining to the genocide)
4) HIV/ AIDS (they urge people who are affected to join advocacy associations)
5) Food security (Rwanda is very green right now, but they did experience a severe drought in 2003)
They have also initiated several communities support programs. Mentorship is extremely important, and orphans and vulnerable children are given a mentor who will visit them frequently and who will be there when the children have a problem. The health problems in Nyamata are ones we would never dream of experiecing. Malaria, HIV, malnutrition, and worms are the most common.
After the WV office, we visited a local school. It was started up as a partnership between WV and the parents in the community. Apparently, these kids have the best grades in the district… I saw the math they were doing in Grade 5, and we didn’t touch that stuff until Grade 11! After we asked our questions, the kids were given the chance to ask us questions. One precocious little guy stood up and said, “Before we asked you to bring computers, and you still haven’t brought any.” After the Q&A period, we started handing out candy, and the kids got downright vicious! At one point, I had a swarm of about 20 shove me up against a wall and start grabbing at my pockets and purse! It was quite comical, but a little scary as well!
Before we left, the headmaster told us about several needs. Please keep these in mind to see if you can help or know anyone who might be able/ willing to:
1) He asked that we pray for the school, the management, the parents, and the students.
2) We would like us to help initiate a correspondence program between their classes and classes back in Canada. This one should be easy guys… spread the word with any teachers you know!
3) They need computers and electricity to run them. (They need money!)
Next, we went to see Joseanne. She is a very young widow caring for her four children. Two of her girls are sponsored. A few years ago, World Vision built them a house. Small and simple by our standards, but I have never seen anyone shine with so much pride! She could not wipe the ear-to-ear grin off of her face! She told us that before she received her house, she could not care for her children and felt useless. Not, she knows she is valuable. She has quite a large yard, and is working on building a lean-to at the back in anticipation for receiving a cow. I can’t wait to post pictures of her and her children… this woman is the epitome of the word gracious.
As the crowds of children gathered outside of Joseanne’s home, we realized what true poverty is. Three and four year olds had babies strapped to their back. A couple were naked. We gave them candies and toothbrushes. Before realising that we has enough to go around, one precious little girl crushed her Werthers, and then spat it out into tiny pieces so she could share it with her friends.
After that we visited another family who received a home from World Vision. At 23 years old, Franciose has been the head of her household since the genocide (1994… you do the math). She cares for Francine, who is also 23 but “received trauma” (emotional or physical, we didn’t find out) in the genocide. Another Franciose, another Francine, and Edan are in their mid-teens. Franciose was also very proud and talked about how she spent her salary to buy nice things for the house (benches, beds, bright blue paint for the doors and windows). She had many questions for us. She was so proud to be hosting Canadians in her home and wanted to know what Canadians thought of Rwanda.
Next, we went to an HIV association. Run by people with HIV for people with HIV. They provide support for one another, help people with getting access to healthcare, and also try to educate those not infected on how to stay that way. They sew and weave baskets to raise money for the members. I was privileged enough to buy a beautiful basket and chat with the woman who weaved it. They only had four baskets available, because it is hard for them to buy material (Cindy, this is where your money is going). Like everyone else we have met, they tell their stories with pride, grace, and hope.
Lastly, we drove down a crazy road for 20 minutes (Justin, you would have loved it, but I’m afraid that our Toyoto van was not built for such an adventure) and met Jean-Pierre, 20, and Emanuel, 17. They lost their whole family in the genocide. For a few years, they lived with relatives, but it was not a good situation. Three years ago, they returned to their parents’ land, but their house had been destroyed in the war. They currently live in a small mud hut (just like you see on TV) no bigger than 10’ wide. But, they have recently been selected to receive a house from World Vision. Jean-Pierre cares for his brother with the diligence and maturity of someone twice his age. He would like to go to school, but has more hope for his brother, so he instead works and looks for food all day so that Emanuel may go to school and be a mechanic as he dreams.
Well, much more happened, but that’s about all I can write as my eyelids are beginning to droop.
Tomorrow I will meet with Assumpta (Ang & Brian’s child), Jean D’Amore (Kath & Geoff), Charlotte (Danielle), and Jean-Pierre (me & Justin). I will see Aline next week.
If you made it up to this part, thanks for reading!!!
