Why You Should Support Rwanda, Africa

By: Natalie HewittT/Th 9-10:15

The Genocide

• Power struggle between Hutus and Tutsis

• 100 days from April 6 - July 16, 1994

• Approx. 1 million people died

Cont.

• About 500,000 women were raped• 20,000 children were born• 67% of women who were raped were infected

with HIV and AIDS• The Genocide ended when the Rwandan

Patriotic Front took over– Trained military group

The Results

• A whole generation was wiped out– Resulting in the ages of the survivors between

14-21• Over half the children who survived stopped their

schooling• 75,000 of survivors were orphaned• 40,000 survivors are still without shelter• 7 in 10 survivors earn monthly income of less

than 8 American Dollars

The Recovery/Gacaca Law

• Gacaca, a traditional community court system, was formed– 11,000 community courts

• Over 93% Rwandans believed gacaca delivered justice and reconciliation

• Cheap and efficient

Development

• Homes, roads and community are slowly being re-built

• Popular interest like healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation

• Got rid of the tribes, and became one country regardless of ethnic identity

• In 13 years, Rwanda’s economy has expanded 600%

Rwanda Now

• Walk miles to get fresh water out of wells• Very good soil for farming– Beans– Rice

• Kids walk miles to go to school– No shoes

• Houses built of tin, cloth, mud, etc.• No electricity

Cont.

• Even after the genocide and everything they’ve been through, it was amazing to see how happy they were

• Having nothing, and still being thankful for one another

• Very caring