The Rwandan Government will hold it's 25th Commemoration event this coming Thursday when they remember the genocide which took place in April 1994. The implications of the genocide are massive and remain to this day within the lived experience of all the survivors, perpetrators and the world at large. There has been some repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation for many since the events of 1994 but it is obvious that it will take many generations to work through the impact of that sad year. Easter of course is all about forgiveness, won through the Cross on which Jesus died and who, after being buried, was found to have risen to life again. This life which is stronger and more powerful than any evil is the hope of Easter.
The district of Huye in southern Rwanda is famous for it's elaborate wood carving, but the simplicity of this wooden cross captures the Easter message.
Afrinspire supported 328 children, orphans of the genocide, through their education up until 2013 when the final 28 finished. Rwanda as a nation continues it's journey of fast development although the rural area remains much as it has always been. With Rwanda forging a strong development path, Afrinspire has in recent years concentrated it's support towards more marginalised communities in other parts of East Africa but we have not forgotten our friends in Rwanda at what is a painful time each year.
WATER SPRINGS
Ten water springs have been protected in the past two months in Uganda. Collectively they serve over 4,000 people with clean water daily. The program has paused while we raise funds to carry on. We keep an appeal page open all the time as well as special appeals. To see a brief and colourful summary water report for 2020 look here.
CHIBONDO PROGRESS
We are focussing on the Chibondo village in Northern Zambia to bring water and sanitation to the village which is made up of people who have left the Lunga swamps and settled on the mainland by Lake Bangweulu. There are 119 households and since January thirty two pit latrines have been constructed. We helped to train a team to make latrine slabs (well, they are still learning and others as well) and the people contribute cement when they are able to do so. Our contribution brings lorries of sand into the area which gets distributed to the homes. We are grateful to everyone who has so far donated to our appeal for this village. £1,709 has been donated which has attracted the first £1,000 of matched funding. When a further £300 is added it will trigger the next £1,000 of matched funding which is available. Our target is for every home in this village to have a latrine in 2021. There is only one water well to serve the village and we also hope to construct a second well which will cost £1,300
SURVIVE AND RE-START
The defining words of the Covid pandemic have been to survive and then re-start. Most of the requests which Afrinspire receives from East Africa come under these two headings. The lockdowns and economic slow-down have led to real hardship among our partners. Our inputs have become even more valuable in helping people to survive and restart.
NEWS FROM SOUTH SUDAN
We are connected with many groups of South Sudanese living in the refugee settlements in northern Uganda. One of the best ways of helping these people to survive is by the distribution of goats. Another distribution took place in Ayibu and Imvepi camps during February. Many of the people, who received goats, work as volunteer teachers in the seven primary schools which Afrinspire has helped them create in the settlements. "They are happy and rejoicing over receiving the goats and they appreciate Sani Tayi Self-Help and Afrinspire for the donation", reports John Noah Komi. The people report another problem because the UN who run the camps are only giving enough land for constructing a shelter but not enough for cultivation. To cultivate they have to rent land from the local Uganda people One fedan (A Sudanese measurement, slightly more than an acre) costs £30 for one year but at this point they lack the money to rent land.
This caused some to try to return to South Sudan. But then the government army began fighting rebels about 18 miles outside of Yei. Hundreds of people, mainly women, children and the elderly, were displaced again and are now moving towards the camps in Uganda. These people have now been in this limbo situation for a month, living under mango trees, in a church and a school.
IN SUPPORT OF AGNES
Many of us who have travelled visiting Afrinspire partners in Uganda will know Mama Janes Children's Care Centre in Jinja. A Facebook fundraiser has been set up because Agnes Nabawanga, who has been running Mama Jane's Children's Home in Jinja for more than 30 years, now needs our help. She is in the ICU in Lubaga hospital for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. She does not have the money to pay for hospital bills or medication. There is no NHS in Uganda and everything must be paid for personally. Mama Janes staff are looking after immediate needs at the hospital but they need help with the bill. You can donate here and we especially invite all those who have sat in the office with Agnes to help if they can. Thank you so much. You can find out more about Mama Janes here.
