Story by Pastor David Hakizimana Hakizimana, a sociotherapist and pastor of a Pentecostal church of Rwanda (ADEPR), is passionate about sociotherapy, and wants the good news of community building to be known more widely. From childhood, when he was orphaned and began to raise his younger siblings, and throughout his
Story by Leoncie Kampire Kampire, a sociotherapist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), supports a number of people every day in Gihembe Refugee Camp. Even with these relationships, Kampire felt weighed down by her problems. Insomnia kept her up at night, she would burst into tears over small things,
Story of change by Venantie Mukamana My name is Venantie. My independent life began when I moved to Kigali for work as a young adult. I couldn’t work on my family’s farm due to stomach issues, so I decided to get a job in the city. After a short time,
Story of change by Betty Niyonsaba My name is Betty. I was born in 1990, and I lost my parents during the genocide when I was four. My maternal grandmother took me in, but she mistreated me and my siblings. Though we were financially supported by FARG (Genocide Survivors Assistance
Story of Change: Théoneste Bazatsinda During the genocide, we lost six members of my family. Though we received Gacaca court services, I wasn’t satisfied because they didn’t give survivors enough time to express ourselves, and the trauma from the genocide has remained with me. I joined the third round of
By Felibien Hirwa TuzayisengaAfter driving for one hour, from Rubengera, through the mountains of Karongi on the shaky cobblestone road, we reached Murambi sector where sociotherapists and 14 sociotherapy participants had invited us to join their conviviality meeting. Conviviality meetings are normally organized at the end of every round of
My name is Francois. I was born in 1964 in Muhanga district. I am married and a father of two children. Before the genocide, I was a farmer.. Although I participated in the genocide, I never truly had the intention inside my heart to do so. When the genocide started, I initially tried to
My name is Elina. I am a widow and mother of 3 children. I was born in 1977 in Gatsibo district, but I grew up in Rulindo district with my mother. I remember one particular Thursday in April 1994. My mother woke up early to go to Kigali to sell vegetables. However, this time
My name is Issa. I was born in 1997. Together with my mother and my three siblings I live in Rubavu district. During the genocide, my father killed people and looted their property. A couple of years later, my family went to a refugee camp in Congo. I never really knew why.