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Chris Valleau, ’ 12 Summer 2011 Kigali, Rwanda REACH Organization Focus : Genocide

Photo: Chris with a women’s soap-making cooperative in the Nymata district of Rwanda.

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Chris Valleau, ’ 12 Summer 2011 Kigali, Rwanda REACH Organization Focus : Genocide

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  1. Photo: Chris with a women’s soap-making cooperative in the Nymata district of Rwanda During my time in Rwanda, most of my work involved helping to organize and run REACH’s seminars on reconciliation, as well as assisting several work-cooperatives that REACH supports throughout the country (one soap-making cooperative in Nyamata and two jewelry and craft cooperatives in the Kirehe district in particular). Chris Valleau, ’12 Summer 2011 Kigali, Rwanda REACH Organization Focus: Genocide Reconciliation

  2. Below: A group of Hutu and Tutsi women that REACH has helped to reconcile work side-by-side making jewelry. If this kind of forgiveness and true reconciliation is possible in a country so recently torn apart by genocide, then why can’t that kind of compassion be possible everywhere? I’ve found that this work has made me think of those in my own life who I have problems with and has challenged me to approach those people with renewed compassion and forgiveness. Reconciliation is necessary everywhere, but only after Rwanda do I know how possible it is. Much of REACH’s work is done with women, generally either widows of the genocide or wives of perpetrators whose husbands have spent the last seventeen years in prison. Both of these groups struggle greatly to send their children to school and often can’t to provide enough food for themselves and their families. Yet despite their common struggles, these women often live side-by-side and never speak. For the victims, seeing the families of perpetrators brings back memories of the genocide. For the wives of perpetrators, they feel hated and powerless to do anything about it. Amazingly, REACH has not only proven that reconciliation between these groups is possible, has truly made it the norm in the work that they do. Above: A group of former genocide perpetrators who volunteer two days each week to build houses for the families of genocide victims. REACH provides them with the building materials.

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