Sheilla’s team humble, sit on matt in the village of Forgiveness and Testimonies, hearing testimonies from the Club’s members
On 26th September, 2025, a team of 17 people led by Sheila from the USA and Cameroon visited ALARM’s Peace and Reconciliation Project in Bugesera, Eastern Province at the Village of Forgiveness and Testimonies. The purpose of their visit was to witness the unity and reconciliation of the Rwandan community after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. During the visit, they met with members of the Club of Unity and Resilience Kanazi, which is composed of genocide survivors, ex-prisoners/ perpetrators who have completed their sentences, reintegrated into the community, and their children.
The first visible symbol of reconciliation was the Village of Forgiveness and Testimonies. In this initiative, club members, in partnership with ALARM, constructed six shelters and refurbished five others for either members or vulnerable people. While ALARM provided building materials, the members contributed their labor and manpower.
The visitors also listened to testimonies from couples (where one is a genocide survivor and the other a former prisoner), as well as testimonies from young people who are the children of both survivors and perpetrators. These stories deeply reflect the journey of surviving the horrible killings, forgiveness, repentance, remorse, activities of reconciliation, and the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation they extend to other communities.
Sheila’s team had the opportunity to ask questions for clarification and learned that the club’s members had achieved significant progress in reconciliation, even though reconciliation in Rwanda remains a continuous journey. Some individuals have not yet reached the stage of full remorse and forgiveness, while others remain in prison. It is expected that in 2025, around 20,000 genocide perpetrators/ prisoners will complete their sentences and return to the community, where their reintegration will require more efforts. ALARM and the Club’s members’ prayers are for the peaceful reintegration.
We sincerely appreciate Sheilla’s team for their commitment to continue praying for us so that reconciliation activities may receive the necessary support and funding. This will enable ALARM and the Club’s members to complete the work they have tarted, which has brought a positive change and has impacted the people of Bugesera.
