Impact Rwanda takes a holistic approach to meeting the needs of the desperately poor and vulnerable people of Rwanda by offering feeding and education to street children survivors of the Rwandan genocide and HIV/AIDS orphans, support for HIV+ adults, pastoral training, funding for micro-enterprises in the Kiziba Refugee Camp, and support and employment training for ex-prostitutes.
Background: Rwanda
Rwanda is a country recovering from genocide, an uprising that built gradually over many years and erupted in violence in 1994. Close to 1 million people died in a terrible sequence of events that pitted neighbour against neighbour, split families and tore apart an entire nation.
Fifteen years later, there is a new feeling of hope in Rwanda, as they implement post-genocide programs of forgiveness and reconciliation. President Kagame recently encouraged the entire country to participate in Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven Life" daily readings.
However, thousands of children were left behind in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. It is estimated that 8000 children live on the streets of Kigali, the capital city; many of whom saw their parents tortured and killed.
International Teams' Involvement
The Kayonza Village of Hope - At the request of the Rwandan government and with the assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency, International Teams will work with the national church to meet the needs of the people of Kayonza district by constructing the Nyamirama Village of Hope Training and Development Centre. This adult and youth prototype training facility will provide a curriculum of hands-on, relevant instruction that will improve long-term sustainability and reduce malnutrition in the area.
The Vivante Street Kids Project - International Teams' Vivante Street Kids project impacts the lives of hundreds of impoverished children and genocide survivors in Kigali, each week. On Fridays, about 200 children gather to receive a free lunch of beans, rice and bananas. Recognizing that food is only part of the challenge for these children, Team Leader Jennifer Kamari trains 30-50 street kids in language, basic math and life skills. Some children have never learned how to hold a pencil. Every semester 10 of the older children attend a local Technical School to learn skills such as welding, construction, carpentry and mechanics. In April 2008, the first group of 12 students graduated from technical training to apprenticeship. In the following semester, another 8 street children enrolled in technical school. This second wave of children was more trusting, having seen the success of their peers. The promise of employment has brought hope to street children who otherwise would have had no chance. School fees were paid for an additional 20 younger street children who have been placed in the loving homes of local church members. International Teams plans to hire a Program Director for the Vivante Street Kids Project.
The Ubuzima HIV/AIDS Association Project - The HIV/AIDS Association is a weekly support group for approximately 150 HIV positive adults in the city of Kigali led by "Mama Deborah". This group visits, prays for and encourages one another, and looks after practical needs like emergency medication, food and palliative care. International Teams provides food and medical care for some of the HIV/AIDS Association children. International Teams interns have also assisted with homecare visits.
The Kiziba Refugee Camp Project - Approximately 18,000 Congolese live in the Kiziba Refugee Camp, in western Rwanda's Kibuye province. Most have long desired to return home, as daily life in Kiziba is far from easy, but dangerous conditions in the Congo prevent their repatriation. International Teams sends short-term teams of Canadian pastors who provide pastoral training and pastor-to-pastor mentoring. In addition, a volunteer teacher leads he Jeunesse Chretiene en Mission (JCM) youth association composed of youth leaders from 13 churches in the refugee camp. The JCM organizes activities for hundreds of youth, such as sports, community care to HIV patients inside the camp, concerts and evangelical crusades. International Teams provides micro-enterprise and business management training and, recently, purchased a generator for the JCM to run sound systems for crusades and to operate a cell phone recharging business to generate income for their ministry.
The Kigali Women in Action Project - Kigali Women in Action (KWIA), is a ministry to ex-prostitutes and orphans led by Rwandan Pastor Maureen Alexandria. Kigali Light Church opens its doors each Sunday to 100+ members, most of whom would be unwelcome in other local churches. Renovations to the rented facility are progressing. International Teams trains the women in basket weaving, micro-enterprise and business management so that they can plan for the future and support themselves. Mama Maureen has been initiating new market sources for the weaving. Four of the women have shown outstanding initiative, and have begun to train other women on their own! International Teams continues to provide various training, food and education for the children of these women. For women with so many disadvantages this weaving opportunity has been tremendously encouraging, providing a path to an honest living. The future looks more secure than ever before for these women and children. In addition to the basket weaving initiative, International Teams sponsors 49 children of the Kigali Women in Action. Approximately 10 of the girls began university in the summer term of 2008. Pastor Maureen would welcome interns to assist with this program.
Listen to Learn Institute International - Listen to Learn Institute International, an International Teams program, provides impoverished African Pastors and church leaders in remote areas with audio-recorded Biblical teaching translated into the indigenous languages of Rwanda made available on MP3 players.
Click here to learn more.
Pastoral Training - Teams of Canadian Pastors support indigenous pastors twice a year during a one week intensive training course. A conference just for pastors' wives has also been organized to encourage and support them in their ministries.
JUST US Project - International Teams in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency sponsored the Just Us Project, a 90-minute youth-to-youth interactive event, that uses music, a 30-minute film, group interaction, and personal reflection to introduce young people to the UN Millennium Development Goals and to become part of a nation-wide movement dedicated to making realistic and relevant change in the world. For more information, or to have your church or community group host the project, please see (
www.thejustusproject.com).
Impact Rwanda
