A Special Gathering

July 13, 2018

On Friday morning, we returned to the church where we had gathered the night before. We were greeted by the leadership of the five Never Again co-ops in the Kayonza district. There, we would have an intimate gathering with these courageous leaders, as they shared with us their stories of war, hopelessness, desperation, and, finally, reconciliation and peace.

Written by Grace:

Never Again Fellowship is made up of 9 cooperatives whose members come from the three previously warring ethnic groups in Rwanda. After the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, ethnic tensions remained high and post-war destitution left the people of Rwanda hungry and hopeless. Fear, distrust, and a lack of financial means kept the children from returning to school. As one Genocide survivor testified, things were so bleak and painful, that she and most others considered suicide. There was no hope that life could ever resume.

Twenty-four years later – a lifetime for some Never Again members – that hopelessness has given way to vivacity and optimism. Following a long journey from unity to reconciliation to forgiveness, the members of Never Again Fellowship have turned their focus from their painful past to a bright future ahead. The co-ops serve as a shining example to the rest of Rwanda due to their success in fostering peace between Genocide survivors and perpetrators through work.

By focusing on shared interests and collective uplift, the co-ops have been able to re-establish the harmony which was abundant in Rwanda’s precolonial history.

WD4H has had the priviledge of partnering with these co-ops on a host of programs, including livestock, education, businesses, and training in permagarden, leadership, and business. The Student Leaderdship Training held in Kigali each December is helping shape the next generation of Never Again leaders. As one mother – whose daughter is sponsored by Leesbeth – shared, “My daughter keeps expanding my hope that she will take over everything I’m doing and more.”

This same mother, Jackie, is the president of Twiyubake Cooperative – the handcraft artisans. She went on to share a moving testimony on what she considers to be WD4H’s most meaningful contribution to her community: “Love”.

“We come from a situation where we didn’t even know what love was,” she explained. “You brought us love; we are always learning from you. We apply the meaning of love that you have shown us. That’s what we use to solve our problems.”

Throughout the many testimonies shared by survivors and perpetrators alike, this love was consistently held up as the greatest gift and most important lesson WD4H could provide. It has served as the reassurance that these communities are doing something important and worth continuing. Already, their model of organization and entrepreneurship has produced incredible results.

Simply put, Never Again Fellowship has given more than 4,500 Rwandans the tools to overcome poverty, division, and hopelessness and start a new chapter of their lives, one marked by prosperity, unity, and love.

The final speaker was a Genocide survivor named Grace. She spoke to us while standing next to her fellow co-op member, Augustin - a man who participated in the killing of her children. After serving prison time, Augustin sought out Grace, seeking her forgiveness and offering to help her rebuild all that was destroyed.

In 2008, Grace and Augustin joined Never Again and founded the Ruganeheza Cooperative together, as president and Vice President. Now, more than 24 years after the Genocide, the two stand side by side, as family. (See photos below)

Grace summed it all up beautifully. “The reality,” she said, smiling, “is that we are new people.”

Thoughts from Travelers:

Naima: Some of the testimonies were heart wrenching. One man admitted to being a perpetrator who spent 8 years in jail, who eventually met the woman whose family he participated in killing during the genocide. She forgave him, and eventually they worked side by side in the cooperative, and she considers him her brother now. It made me reflect on people I can forgive, after hearing these intense stories where forgiveness seems almost impossible. This was one of the most intense and inspiring stories I have ever heard. We rejoiced with these people afterward, celebrating life, cooperation, and new beginnings.