Day 8: Real Programs Boldly Enhancing the Lives of the Rwandan People

Day 8: Thursday, February 15, 2007

I must admit to you that I’m getting a bit of “blog fatigue”, but I’m hearing that there are some folks reading this. Please send comments and questions so that I know you are alive and interested out there!!

Tears are flowed spontaneously several times today as I’m continuing to read Dallaire’s day-by-day horrific account of the genocide, while simultaneously observing it’s persistent impact today. I feel like my soul is being sheared open in order to more fully feel the suffering which in turn is fueling the wellsprings of compassion and righteousness that drives all of energy to strive for global justice, now! I've also learned that some Rwandans don't like Dallaire's book, as they think he is just defending his failures and he really should have done more. One colleague recommended a book called Death, Despair, and Defiance published by African Rights. I'm trying to track that one down.

Today I had the great opportunity to visit the WE-ACTx programs in Kigali. WE-ACTx began working in Rwanda in early 2004 to provide HIV care to genocide rape survivors, in active partnership with the Rwandan government and five local NGO partners. They are working with 20 women’s association and focusing on empowering HIV-postive women and girls to take charge of their lives and become leaders in the fight against AIDS. For more detailed information check out http://www.we-actx.org/

WE-ACTx has three clinic sites in and around Kigali that has enrolled over 2000 people in HIV/AIDS care and support services, with nearly 1200 women and children on lifesaving anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS treatment. The largest We-ACTx site is called Icyuzuzo, which is supported by a community-based Widow’s Association headed by Judith Nukagakwaya. The clinic was bursting with women coming for HIV-testing, counseling, and their medications. I also observed a large group of 30 community-based mobilizers getting trained by WE-ACTx that support clients and identify new people that need services. This program is mainly supported by Keep A Child Alive (www.keepachildalive.org) which raises money directly from the public and directly supports fast-moving action on behalf of those in the most desperate need.

WE-ACTx has one of the strongest and most extensive psychological support programs for genocide survivors in Rwanda—although they believe that they are only reaching the tip of the iceberg. They have one clinical psychologist, 4 trauma counselors, and 6 family advocates who provide group and individual support and therapy to as many clients as possible. I was told that nearly all of the women enrolled in these programs are suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder which results in bouts of depression, anxiety, and psychoses. Many of the women are experiencing ongoing sexual and physical abuse in dysfunctional relationships. I was told that many of the women reluctantly choose “co-habitation” relationships as they offer some benefits like shelter and food for their children, and the violence is something that comes with the package. This program urgently needs financial support, so please consider contributing if you can.

One of the staff members of WE-ACTx is a dynamic woman by the name of Felicite Rwemalika who is the Project Coordinator of the Rwandan Women Inter-Association Study & Assessment. It turns out that she is a famous lady who has introduced women’s soccer throughout the country. In 1998 she first brought the idea to the country and fought the cultural barriers for 2 years until she was allowed to start the first team. Now there is a National Women’s Football (soccer) Federation with 16 teams that compete around the nation. Felicite has found that football reduces stress, builds self-esteem, and gives women a new lease on life. Check out and consider supporting her Association of Kigali Women Footballers (AKWOF): http://www.globalgiving.com/pfil/1618/projdoc.doc

Finally, I had the opportunity to visit with the Professor Josh Ruxin who directs the Millenium Village – Rwanda Mayange Initiative: http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/mvp/locations/mayange/index.html Keep your eye on this very exciting model for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Hopefully this type of comprehensive development model will be replicated throughout Rwanda in the very near future.

I just came back from an amazing first-ever Rwandanese cuisine dinner with cassava bread, fried bananas, and fresh tilapia with my friend Joseph Hakizimana, Country Clinical Coordinator for WE-ACTx. Phew! I’m spent!