This was a week of extreme contrasts. We've seen transcendent love and the depths of human depravity. From the Genocide Memorial on Monday, to Empower the Future Foundation on Wednesday, to the Zion Foundation projects on Thursday; I am left feeling humble and hopeful that we can help these amazing people.
The depravity, as embodied by the 1994 genocide, must wait. I'll get to it some dark day on this blog, because it's worth knowing what political techniques and mob mentality lead to and have lead to in many societies. And as always when there is horrible cruelty and brutality, there were also acts of incredible grace.
But today, there's so much good to write about a place we visited first and the Zion Foundation, (equally beautiful) must wait for a week. The tragedy in the history of Rwanda is part of all the stories, in a strange sort of way.
A million people were killed in the 90 days of the 1994 genocide, leaving many thousands of orphans, some of whom were the only surviving members of their families. Their bodies survived, but in a way, their identities were blotted out. They had nowhere to belong. More to the point today, they had no models to teach them how to parent. No support and nobody to teach what an intact family and a responsible parent looks like.
Nevertheless, these women are learning to skills, crafts, English and parenting. That might not seem like such a miracle, but their stories are the very stuff from which miracles are woven.
Empower the future was started by Emile Kayitare. After his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was filled with fire of the Gospel. He looked around his Rwandan neighborhood and saw many street children, some as young as 7. But he quickly realized that many (most?) of them were not orphans. Their homes were fractured by addiction, poverty, lack of education or combinations of many factors.
So Emile obtained a tiny complex with some enclosed spaces and some sheltered, open air areas. He and several like-minded friends brought the children in and began feeding and clothing them. Other's volunteered to help teach, cook, and manage the technicalities of starting a charitable organization.
But true rescue required the restoration of the children to their families. So Emile went out and found their parents. He brings them in to the "Empower the Future" space and began feeding, teaching, and healing them, too.
Children and parents go home at night, but during the day, while the children are taught math, reading, English, nutrition, and other skills they need to return to or begin school, the adults are taught a marketable skill. Empower the future returns the children to school as soon as they are ready, (immediately if possible). They come back to the center on Saturdays to show their progress.
The parents choose the craft they want to pursue. Among the choices are woodworking, sewing, basket making, using a knitting machine, and jewelry making, rug making and others.
Below is the small room in the facility used as a store where the handicrafts made by the parents are sold. There were LOTS of things I loved. There are definitely some of those pointy hat baskets in my future as well as some nativities, and . . .well, their computer bags are AWESOME...colorful jewelry etc. Jeff wants a cool shirt like they make there, too.
When visitors make purchases, some of the money goes to the craftsman and some goes to reimburse the Foundation for supplies. Upon graduation, the newly minted seamstresses or basket makers or woodworkers are given the tools of their trade. Woodworkers are given chisels and jigsaws and other needed implements, seamstresses are given a treadle sewing machine, (since many of their homes don't have electricity, the cheaper treadle machine makes good sense.) Basket makers are given supplies to get them started on their own. The seamstresses also have the option of becoming an employee, sewing orders for school uniforms and working for a wage.
After nine months, the families graduate. The parents are then in a position to provide for their families and the children are in school, and on track to be successful in whatever their chosen profession will be. The foundation pays the $50 school fees for each child to cover their first year.
The treadle sewing machines given to the seamstresses cost $150 apiece. I don't know how much the tool kits for other crafts cost, but I would guess they're similar.
It's incredible to me that an entire family's future, including unborn generations, can be completely changed for the better at such a small cost (in US dollars). But for a country as poor as Rwanda is currently, the task of raising so much is monumental.
After our tour, the kids, (mostly boys) put on a dance party for us. Not only did they get us involved, they enjoyed showing off their spectacular dance skills.
They're happy and friendly and generally very curious about us "muzungus," (white people). "Elder" Stephenson delighted them by demonstrating his Charleston dance move that looks like his knees are passing through each other.
I wish this was a spontaneous show of affection, but it was part of a game. Notice the moms in the background, enjoying the games as they weave baskets. Once the dance party really got going, several of the moms joined in and REALLY showed us how it's done. Sweat was dripping off the ends of my hair already when everyone else was just warming up!
Of course Emile's team's huge worry is and always will be raising money. Each class has a maximum of 25 children and there is far more outlay than income. They are graduating a class at the end of this week and will accept another set the following week. There were children clinging to the outside of the gate in the very poor neighborhood in which the center is located. . . apparently hoping to be admitted.
I know what you're thinking. If you want to make a donation, use Venmo: @EmpowertheFuture or Paypal: @Empowerthefuture2020.
Warning, you're going to want to help the people I'll write about next week, too. Different people. . .just as impressive/humbling/inspiring. Stay tuned and PLEASE share. I never could have understood what an immense difference a little seed money would mean to these wonderful people until I saw it for myself! -
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