The journey had been long, but the opportunity finally presented itself. Eliya, a genocide perpetrator, was finally being welcomed back to the community. Families and community members all gathered together to witness this rare occasion, 24years after the genocide. But where did it all start? Ten years ago, Eliya got an invitation to attend a Healing and Reconciliation workshop. It is here that he met Gaston, a man who had miraculously survived a gruesome beating (they used a club full of nails, and damped his body in a ditch) by a perpetrator, a man who had lost over 70members of his extended family to the genocide, and a man who recognized Eliya as the culprit who killed 9members of his wife’s family, in that same period. It was here that Eliya saw Gaston, and it broke his heart. All he could do was fall on his knees, and earnestly ask for forgiveness. Through the Lord’s conviction, Gaston embraced him and forgave him. Gaston later on played the significant role of mediating the reconciliation of Eliya, first with his wife, and later on with his wife’s sister, Denise. Prior to their reconciliation and forgiveness, the thought and sight of Eliya disgusted Denise. She hated him for what he had done to her family. The hate was so extreme to the extent that she didn’t want to fellowship with Eliya in the same church! However, all that is in the past now. Recently a ceremony was organized to welcome Eliya back to the community. A ‘cow of forgiveness’ was awarded to Denise’s mother, to mark a fresh start between the two families.

Eugene Twagirimana I am a healing and community development facilitator since 2015. I grew up in village in a family of 9 children who lost their father 1994. since then, life has been very difficult . poverty, hunger, lack of school fees , lack of fatherhood affection is part of what he have lacked in my early child hood. Through well born child initiative of which I am a founder, we are assuring children and youths to have a better future through Education, development , child rights and advocacy programs in Mbabe and Rusheshe remote community. in partnership with local community members , 145 children have accessed good early childhood education in last 3 years , while 50 parents have benefited from parenting teachings ,10 children from single mothers and very poor families have got Goats to support in their future Education when they go to primary school After finishing in Wellborn child nursery school. I and my wife dedicated our weekly Saturday to the community children clubs at well born center , whereby children shall receive love , care, dignity and values that is scarce in their families.