www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTK3Jnxt3kQ

When I asked if he had political ambitions, Kabera diplomatically skirted around the issue (he would have done great on Meet the Press), but I can only hope that he enters Rwandan politics.  Kabera is a natural born leader, and any organization or country for that matter would be in good hands with him at the helm.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=etkkOCoJ9wo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4KLCCf0yQ0

Albert Gasake, the coordinator of DUHARANIREKUBAHO, shares the story of his family during the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, and how his past motivates him to rise above and give back today.

DUHARANIREICUBAHO's Executive Committee

DUHARANIREKUBAHO's Executive Committee

DUHARANIREKUBAHO, meaning “Fight for Survival,” is an organization founded by and for orphans of the 1994 genocide.  Founded by Albert, who is now the coordinator, and his colleagues in 2004, DUHARANIREKUBAHO has over 245 members throughout the country focusing on using skills and income generating projects to “take back their lives.”

Siraar and Denise

Siraar and Denise

The mission of the organization is three-fold: to provide a network for orphans of the genocide so that they can help one another overcome trauma and other difficulties; to remember the genocide through yearly commemoration activities and prevent future atrocities; and to assist members in building their skills and generating income.

To get to DUHARANIREKUBAHO’s small one-room office, Albert and Patrick (a member that joined the meeting) took me through La Planete Cyber Cafe which I later learned is a buisiness of DUHARANIREKUBAHO, run by its members, to generate income.  In addition to La Planete, DUHARANIREKUBAHO also has agriculture projects and a bee-keeping/honey making business to benefit its members.

Albert and Patrick in front of La Planete Cyber Cafe

Albert and Patrick in front of La Planete Cyber Cafe

La Planete Cyber Cafe

La Planete Cyber Cafe

Albert and Patrick led me into the office where Fiacre, the vice coordinator; Denise, the secretary; Siraar, the auditor; and Dominique, the production manager; patiently waited for our meeting.  The group introduced themselves and were eager to hear more about my work with Survivor Corps and tell me about the structure and projects of their organization.

Patrick took an album off the shelf and gave me a photo-history of DUHARANIREKUBAHO’s growth.  The images captured commemoration activities, events with trauma counselors – DUHARANIREKUBAHO works with ARCT-Ruhuka to provide counseling to their members – as well as sports and other fun competitions.

Albert loves him some Obama

Albert loves him some Obama

After our meeting, I had a chance to do a few interviews which I will post here as I edit them.  I also gave Albert a very quick tutorial on blogging after he gushed about how much he liked my blog.

Albert and me

Albert and me

I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome from Albert and DUHARANIREKUBAHO.  It was exciting to learn about the great work they are doing and to see how the members are helping one another to “rise above and give back.”

In our past meetings, I had given Mussolini a hard time for being late, but yesterday, he arrived before I did.  “Being on time is very important,” he told me.  I blushed.

We walked up the ramp to Bourbon Coffee.  “How was your weekend?” I inquired.

“It was not good.  My leg is hurting.  It is never good when my leg hurts.  They will have to cut it more.”

As we sat in the coffee shop, Mussolini proudly showed me a document Francis and he had put together which clearly describes ALSAR’s mission, activities, and plan of action.  They had not had a lot of time to work on the web site yet, but wanted to make sure they had planned out exactly what they wanted the site to convey first.

We went over the techniques for updating and editing content, and I gave them suggestions on how to design their pages.  I began feeling a bit disappointed that we had not accomplished more.  I think Mussolini sensed this.

“You have made us go boom!” These words were somewhat disconcerting coming from Mussolini, a landmine survivor.

I think he saw my hesitation.  “I mean, you have helped us to explode.”

Hmmm… not much better.

“Your help, on our web site, will help ALSAR grow.  We will be able to do much more with the tools you have given us.”

Ok, I’ll take that.  But the truth is that Mussolini and Francis have given themselves the tools.  I taught them how to work with a google site, but they have overcome their injuries, faced their facts, and have chosen to live.  Although he spends many days in pain, Mussolini is determined to see ALSAR succeed.  He wants to ensure that he helps those who are going through the same mental and physical pains.  He may have lost his leg, but his spirit remains, and it is this strength and determination that will enable him and his organization to grow and succeed.

While we only had a day and a half in Bujumbura, with Laura as our trusty tour guide, we had a chance to see the best of what the city has to offer.  After we got ourselves oriented (and of course, fed), Laura took us for a walk down to Lake Tanganyika.  We positioned ourselves at a fancy hotel for the best Primus I’ve yet to taste and some hippo watching, followed by a delicious pizza dinner.

Bryan and Laura watch for hippos on Lake Tanganyika

Bryan and Laura watch for hippos on Lake Tanganyika

Sunset (and hippos) over Lake Tanganyika

Sunset (and hippos) over Lake Tanganyika

The next day, Laura, had a full day in store for us.  We visited the Musee Vivant, a small zoo-like facility where the rules against cruelty towards animals have clearly not been enforced.  Caged crocs, snakes, leopards and monkeys greeted us as our guide poked them with sticks.  They also had a replica of a traditional village hut, where I got to grind maize and Brian could barely fit inside without knocking off his head.  I guess this explains “Big Man,” the nickname given to him by the Burundians.  Follow Musee Torture – I mean, Vivant – we visited the Bujumbura market where we were tossed through the crowds and yelled at for taking pictures.  There was only one place left to go, la plage.  So, off we went to Bora Bora, a little slice of heaven in the middle of Bujumbura, where we enjoyed some serious R&R, Primus, and a dip in the Lake for Bryan.

Before dinner, we got to meet up with Robert, Survivor Corps’ Africa Program Associate, and Mendi – the Advocacy Project’s Africa Director.  We chatted about our fellowships and got a chance to hear a bit about what they are doing.  Finally, we took off to Khana Kzana to celebrate Laura’s “birthday.”  Minus a somewhat eventful cab ride home, it was a great day and an exciting trip!  Our time in Burundi (and a USHMM podcast with Peter Uvin that I listened to before visiting) sparked my interest in the country.  Thanks to Laura, I’ve got a few new books on my wish list, and I am looking forward to learning more about how its complex history compares with Rwanda’s and how it fits into the overall region.

**Unfortunately, I can’t get my photos to load today, but you can check out my Burundi album here.

Many Rwandans convicted of genocide in the gacaca courts are sentenced to community service, which is led by TIG.  TIG only began its work in 2005, but it hopes – and needs – to move quickly.  As of today, almost 8,000 perpetrators have completed their service through TIG, 26,000 are currently serving their sentences in 60 camps around the country, and 40,000 still wait to be placed into a TIG camp.

Jean-Paul explained the three aspects of TIG’s programs: punishment, social reintegration, and reconstruction of society through development projects.  I wonder if punishment is the correct word to use in this case.

My mind drifts to my walk to work in Nyamirambo, I pass a TIG camp with hundreds of prisoners in pink jump suits milling around the compound, usually carrying some sort of tool to do this service work.  It is a bit disconcerting to start the morning coming face-to-face with murderers and rapists.  I think of Emilienne, of Chantal and Consolee, of all of my friends who have shared their stories from 1994. I cannot imagine what this must be like for them.

Genocidaires in the TIG program

Genocidaires in the TIG program

I’ve asked Albert about this before.  “It is necessary,” he said.  “It is the only way.”

Albert and Survivor Corps are working with TIG on the third element of the TIG program, social reintegration.  Survivor Corps will provide peer support training to TIG staff and perpetrators in TIG’s programs.  In addition to this training, Survivor Corps plans to work with local government to train and deploy community-based peer outreach workers to provide sustained support to perpetrators as they reintegrate into society.  By encouraging survivors and perpetrators to work together on community service projects, Survivor Corps and TIG will work to not only rebuild communities, but to repair relations between survivors and perpetrators.

Jean-Paul stressed the importance of TIG’s partnership with Survivor Corps.  “The social reintegration component is the major output of our program; it is our output into society and it will shape Rwanda’s future.

(Photo credit: THOMAS LOHNES/AFP/Getty Images)

Mussolini Eugene, Founder of the Association of Landmine Survivors and Amputees

Mussolini Eugene, Founder of the Association of Landmine Survivors and Amputees

We have been trying to get together over the past few weeks, but due to problems with hisprosthetic leg, we were were not able to meet up until Friday.  Although he has spent the past week in several hospitals, dealing with expensive and painful medical treatments, Mussolini was nothing but optimistic and upbeat.  He was excited to begin work on his web site and incredibly thankful for Survivor Corps’ help.  ALSAR’s site is brand new, but with Mussolini’s dedication to the organization, I think it will be up and fully running shortly.  Check out what he’s done so far.

Consolée and Chantal at ARCT-Ruhuka

Consolée and Chantal at ARCT-Ruhuka

“Vous êtes un survivant?” I asked Consolée Mukeshimana.  During my time in Rwanda, speaking with Survivor Corps’ partners, I’ve noticed a pattern.  Every trauma counselor I’ve spoken with is a survivor of the genocide.  So, I just assumed that Consolée would fit the mold.

Sitting in ARCT-Ruhuka’s conference room, Consolée hesitated and laughed nervously.  She looked toward Chantal, the other trauma counselor who was part of our joint-interview.  “Quelle est la definition d’un survivant?”  Consolée asked.

What is my definition of a survivor? I was taken off guard, so I turned the question around, “Qu’est-ce que vous pensez?”

No luck, Consolée replied, “I asked you.” I told her – in my broken French – that a survivor is someone who has experienced a traumatic, life altering, mental or physical injury; has faced and accepted his or her injury; and has chosen to continue on with life and give back to the community, in particular those suffering from similar trauma.

Consolée relaxed a bit.  Then she said something I have not heard any other Rwandan say since I have been here, “Je suis Hutu.”  Not only is it inappropriate – and somewhat illegal – to talk about ethnicity in Rwanda today (if you were to cross politically correct lines and ask someone’s identity, you would most likely hear, “I am Rwandan”), but I had yet to meet a Rwandan so open about being a Hutu.

There was a long pause.  Chantal chimed in, “Just because she was Hutu, it does not mean she killed.  She was in opposition to the genocidaires.  She was afraid of them. She does not know if that makes her a survivor.”

Neither do I.  But one thing I learned during our interview is that Consolée has adopted the attitude of many other trauma counselors that survived the genocide.  In true Survivor Corps’ fashion, she has accepted the scars of the genocide, taken back her life, and is now giving back to those who suffer from trauma today.

Following the genocide, Consolée saw that there were many people throughout the country suffering from psychological wounds.  “There was lots of stress, fear, psychological problems,” she told me.  “In 1996, I began my training to become a counselor because I wanted to help those still experiencing trauma.”  She was working as a social worker in a rural health center when Trocaire – the Christian charity that trained many of ARCT-Ruhuka’s counselors – came to her district and asked for volunteers.  It was a no-brainer for Consolée; she joined the Trocaire team, and continues her work today as a counselor with ARCT-Ruhuka.

Chantal – a survivor who lost her husband during the genocide – has a similar post-genocide story.  She too saw the difficulties that many people faced following the genocide and began her studies to be a trauma counselor.  “It is good to talk and commemorate because memory is part of the healing process,” Chantal said.  “I help people express their emotions and overcome their fears.”

Both Chantal and Consolée are optimistic.  There are not nearly enough psychosocial services in the country, but they believe their continued work and the peer support training that Survivor Corps has provided to their counselors will begin to bear fruit.  As more counselors gain training throughout the country, survivors will be able to assist one another in the recovery process.  Chantal and Consolée are looking forward to gaining more training in peer support and helping spread this process to other counselors throughout the country.  “Mutual experience is the best way to help,” Consolée said smiling.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsI3Gcuo2tI

Above is a video interview with Emilienne Mukansoro, a genocide survivor and a trauma counselor with IBUKA who works with women who have experienced sexual violence.  Emilienne’s story is difficult to listen to, but her experience as a survivor has shaped who she is and what she does today.  After the interview, Emilienne told me that she thinks peer-support is a wonderful way to heal the wounds of survivors, both those who are suffering today and those who have overcome their trauma.