PF Rwanda

It was one of the worst atrocities of the last century. April 2004 marked the 10th anniversary of the barbaric Rwanda genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people were slaughtered. Those who survived witnessed the unspeakable violence and lost many of their relatives. Prisons were crowded with more than 130,000 suspected offenders. Many believed Rwanda would never see peace again. But peace is returning to the wounded nation. Peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

PF Rwanda is helping to heal Rwandans — both the victims and the offenders. The first step was to work with the prisoners, bringing the Gospel’s message of repentance. Under the leadership of Bishop John Rucyahana and Deogratias Gashagaza, PF Rwanda trained 80 facilitators who work in all of the 18 prisons across the country.

In 2002, PF Rwanda launched The Umuvumu Tree Project. Similar to PFI’s Sycamore Tree Project®, this unique reconciliation programme brings the prisoners face-to-face with those who survived the brutal genocide. Victims are encouraged to forgive the perpetrators, despite the painful memories and grief they still feel. “We cannot wait until the pain is over,” Bishop John explains, “we must forgive now, like Jesus did while he was on the cross.”  To date, nearly 40,000 ex-prisoners have been through the programme. Many expressed a desire to demonstrate their genuine repentance, so PF Rwanda began the “Towards Forgiveness” association of ex-prisoners, who unite to construct homes for surviving victims. The ex-prisoners were surprised at how welcoming the survivors were to them, offering tools and helping in the building process.

“The collaboration of the surviving victims and the ex-prisoners in the construction of houses is a tool for peaceful co-habitation,” explains Deogratias Gashagaza, PF Rwanda’s Executive Director. “We hope to unite the whole community in biblical teachings and one day arrive at reconciliation and long-lasting peace.”

Released Rwanda Prisoners Provide Help Genocide Survivors

As part of PF Rwanda’s Umuvumu Tree Project, groups of released prisoners have begun steps toward making restitution for their crimes by helping those most affected.  They are building houses for some of the survivors of the horrendous mass killings that took place in 1994.   They have already started the construction of 15 homes in Ruhengeri for survivors who have no shelter, and they will soon begin the project in Kigali-Ngali.  The ex-prisoners provide their labor free-of-charge and the building materials were donated by local Christians.

click here for more photos and info on PF Rwanda (must have powerpoint)

click here for general info on PF Rwanda (jpg file)

Link to an independent film about Rwanda: As We Forgive Those