Frankreichs Rolle während des Völkermords in Ruanda – France’s role during the Rwandan genocide

Schlagwörter

Africa, Afrika, ausbildung, Bildungspatenschaft, Bildungspatenschafts-Programm, charity, Children, commemoration, Deutschland, development, donation, Dritte Welt, Education, Eine Welt, emergency, Entwicklung, ethic of forgiveness, forgiveness, Fortschritt, Gedenken, Gedenkstätte, Gedenktag, gehörlos, Genocide, handicap, healing, Heilung, Hoffnung, hope, Hutu, impaired, Information, Jahrestag, kids, kill, killing, Kinder, mord, murder, need, nothilfe, Nyamata, one world, opfer, pardon, Patenschaft, prosper, prosperity, reconciliation, relief, rescue, Ruanda, Rwanda, scholarship, Spende, sponsorship, stipendium, support, Tutsi, Twa, Völkermord, vergebung, versöhnung, versöhnungsethik, victim

Daß Frankreich während des Völkermords in Ruanda im Jahr 1994 eine unrühmliche Rolle gespielt hat, ist nicht neu. Längst wurde viel darüber geforscht und gesprochen.
Und dennoch scheinen immer wieder neue Einzelheiten über Frankreichs Verwicklungen in die Ereignisse an den Tag zu kommen.
Auf dem Nachrichtenportal africanews.com ist heute der (englische) Artikel
‚French allowed Rwanda genocide perpetrators to flee‘-Report (Frankreich ermöglichte den Tätern die Flucht) zu lesen.
Es ist beklemmend, was noch immer, 27 Jahre nach den Ereignissen, an den Tag kommt.
Und es zeigt wie wichtig es ist nicht zu vergessen, und „es nicht irgendwann mal gut sein zu lassen“. Umso mehr, da die Geschichte zeigt, wie wenig Menschen aus solchen grausamen Ereignissen lernen, welchen Interessen Machtmenschen folgen und welchen Göttern sie frönen.

That France played an inglorious role during the Rwandan genocide in 1994 is not new. Much has been said and researched about it.
And yet, new details about France’s involvement in the events seem to keep coming to light.
On the news portal africanews.com today one can read the article
‚French allowed Rwanda genocide perpetrators to flee‘ report
It is oppressive what is still coming to light 27 years after the events.
And it shows how important it is not to forget, and not to „let it go“. All the more so because history shows how little people learn from such cruel events, what interests people in power follow and what gods they indulge in.

[ Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator ]

Please help me celebrate my first birthday celebration after 40 years!

Schlagwörter

2020, Africa, artists for kids, birthday, birthday celebration, charity, Children, Deutschland, donation, Education, handicap, help, impaired, Information, introduction, kid, kids, one world, presentation, relief, Rwanda, scholarship, self-confidence, self-sustaining, skills, skills training, sponsorship, stipendium, study, success, support, sustainability, talent, university, video, vocational training, vorstellung, VT

Do you celebrate your birthday every year? Probably a strange question, isn’t it? But a friend of our project celebrates his birthday for the first time in 40 years!
But in an unusual way! He would like you to help him to celebrate this birthday in a special way – and we ask you to help him. But read for yourself!

„My name is Charles Hategekimana from Rwanda and I’m turning 40 years old on March 18, 2020. Practically, I have never celebrated any of my 39 birthdays due to some past circumstances faced in life, that many other people around the world may be facing today.
In fact, this was due to my rural upbringing where most people do not celebrate birthdays as such. I have never experienced it as part of our rural culture. I sometimes conclude that birthday celebration is not really a rural culture, at least referring to my context that I know very well.
For many, there are more needs than just spending on birthdays. Having not celebrated my birthday in my history on earth is also related to the Rwandan history that many people of the world know whereby the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi has psychologically affected many people, including myself. Until many years in its aftermath and even today, psychological consequences are are still felt and not easy to escape. It is funny that even when I got the possibility to celebrate my birthday, I never felt any need. My lovely wife Anitha can testify more on this, but please don’t ask her and don’t also tell our 3 under 10 daughters 😁

Moreover, even during a couple of years (2009-2011 and 2017 to date) that I have spent outside of Rwanda, I have never felt any need to celebrate my birthday in spite of some good friends of mine trying to surprise me and eventually inviting me for their own birthdays. I enjoy these moments anyway. Interestingly, I don’t even plan to celebrate this 40th birthday for myself, but rather I am thinking of many other vulnerable children in Rwanda, like anywhere else in the world, who are going through terrible situations such as lack of education, food and shelter among other basic things of life.

Therefore, if you are willing to support one or more of those vulnerable children in Rwanda, please donate anything small or big through the attached link. You will be helping me to celebrate my 4th decade (40th Birthday) on earth this way while I am even far away from my family doing my PhD project in Germany, also directed to rural areas and vulnerable people in my home-country. Doing this, you will also be helping me to thank God that I was born for a good cause. Trust me: God will bless you for your donation directed to the education of these vulnerable kids in Rwanda. Thank you very much for helping to celebrate my 40th birthday: Happy Birthday to me 😎.“

Please give whatever you can. Every donation counts!

  or   

Activities of our artists initiative „Künstler für Kinder“ (i.e. Artists for Kids)

Schlagwörter

Africa, art, artist, assistance, Band, ceramics, charity, Children, donation, Education, handicap, help, impaired, Information, music, one world, painting, presentation, Rap, Reggae, relief, Rwanda, scholarship, self-determined, self-sustaining, skills, skills training, sponsorship, stipendium, studio, support, sustainability, vocational training, VT

On this page we have compiled an overview of the activities of artists who support our educational project in Rwanda within the framework of the initiative „Künstler für Kinder“ (i.e. Artists for Kids) in chronological order.
They support the project in many ways with ideas and practical help. We would be delighted if other artists could be inspired to join the initiative and contribute their own ideas!

2020

• Fight hunger now! – „Künstler für Kinder“ (Artists for kids) calls for immediate help!
• New Rap-CD „Herzblut“ by „Cannachris“ helps children in Rwanda

2019

• Release of the CD „Kora“ becomes great success
• CANNACHRIS gives his first benefit concert for the education project in Rwanda
• Paper cut artist „Papier Samurai“ (paper samurai) alias Maria Thiel designs motif for a carrier bag (charity project)
• The bag of „Papier Samurai“ (paper samurai) finds great interest on the occasion of a vernissage
• Auction at Grafitti Jam 3.0

2018

• Foundation of the initiative „Künstler für Kinder“ (i.e. Artists for Kids)
• Ras Erigz composes our project song – production in cooperation with CANNACHRIS
• There is also a video with the text in german, english and kinyarwanda and pictures by the artists available.
• Ras Erigz releases his first CD „Kora“ (charity project)
• The rapper CANNACHRIS dedicates his CD „Große Gefühle“ (Marvelous Sensations) to the educational project in Rwanda

25 Jahre Gedenken an Völkermord – 25th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide

Schlagwörter

Africa, Afrika, ausbildung, Bildungspatenschaft, Bildungspatenschafts-Programm, charity, Children, commemoration, Deutschland, development, donation, Dritte Welt, Education, Eine Welt, emergency, Entwicklung, ethic of forgiveness, forgiveness, Fortschritt, Gedenken, Gedenkstätte, Gedenktag, gehörlos, Genocide, Gisozi, handicap, healing, Heilung, Hoffnung, hope, Hutu, impaired, Information, Jahrestag, kids, kill, killing, Kinder, mord, murder, need, nothilfe, one world, opfer, pardon, Patenschaft, prosper, prosperity, reconciliation, relief, rescue, Ruanda, Rwanda, scholarship, Spende, sponsorship, stipendium, support, Tutsi, Twa, Völkermord, vergebung, versöhnung, versöhnungsethik, victim

In diesem Jahr gedenkt Ruanda zum 25. Mal des Völkermords von 1994. Damals ist Grauenvolles passiert in einer Intensität, die ihresgleichen sucht: in 100 Tagen wurden ca. 1 Million Menschen ermordet.
Am 7. April begann die jährliche Trauerwoche in Ruanda, innert derer die Menschen ihrer Verwandten und Freunde gedenken – und aller anderen – die in dieser Zeit umgebracht wurden.
Auch einige unserer älteren Patenkinder sind davon direkt betroffen. Sie haben Schreckliches sehen und erleben müssen und wurden dadurch völlig aus der Bahn geworfen.
Dank der Unterstützung ihrer Paten innerhalb unseres Bildungs-Projekts konnten sie einen Weg ins Leben zurück finden.

Aber auch jüngere Kinder als Nachkommen sind durch ihre Familiengeschichte indirekt betroffen!
Deshalb hoffen wir, es werden sich künftig noch viele weitere Menschen von dem Schicksal der Menschen berühren lassen und eine Patenschaft übernehmen, denn noch immer leben Kinder in äußerst ärmlichen Verhältnissen.

Es gibt im Internet eine Fülle von Informationen über das, was damals geschah. Und wer sich ernsthaft mit diesem Thema beschäftigen möchte, wird schnell fündig.
Ein authentisches und beklemmendes Zeugnis der damaligen Geschehnisse gibt das Buch „Handschlag mit dem Teufel“ von Roméo Dallaire. Deshalb empfehle ich es sehr zur Lektüre.
Das sehr erschütternde Buch ist ein überaus eindrückliches Zeugnis darüber was damals geschah, und welche Rolle die UNO in diesem ganzen Prozeß gespielt hat.

Es ist wirklich ein Wunder, was seitdem in Ruanda geschehen ist. Hoffen wir für das Land, daß derartiges endgültig der Vergangenheit angehört.

Zugleich denke ich aber auch an die Menschen, die in heutiger Zeit Opfer von Kriegen und regelrechten Völkermorden werden!
Die Gisozi-Völkermord-Gedenkstätte in Kigali informiert interessanterweise am Ende der Ausstellung über die Völkermorde des 20. Jahrhunderts. Und dies halte ich für sehr wichtig! Denn es zeigt, daß solche Verbrechen weltweit geschehen – und leider immer wieder!
Nach dem Holocaust hat die sogenannte „Weltgemeinschaft“ geschworen, daß eine derartige Vernichtung ganzer Völkerschaften nie wieder geschehen soll. Doch was ist seitdem geschehen und geschieht noch?
So komplex die Ursachen solcher Kriege sein mögen – sie sind Verbrechen!
Und wir dürfen uns damit nicht abfinden, auch wenn der Kampf dagegen mühsam ist oder gar aussichtslos erscheint. Gäbe es ihn nicht, dann wäre unsere Erde längst vernichtet. Deshalb bitte ich jeden das zu tun, was er tun kann um ein gelingendes Zusammenleben aller Menschen zu fördern. Das genügt schon – denn wenn es alle tun, hat es am Ende auch einen großen Effekt.

This year, for the 25th time, Rwanda commemorates the genocide of 1994, when horrific events took place at an unparalleled intensity: about 1 million people were murdered in 100 days.
On 7 April, the annual week of mourning began in Rwanda, during which people remember their relatives and friends – and all others – who were killed during this time.
Some of our older beneficiaries are also directly affected. They had to see and experience terrible things and were completely thrown off track.
Thanks to the support of their sponsors within our educational project they could find a way back to life.

But also younger children as descendants are indirectly affected by their family history!
Therefore we hope that in the future many more people will be touched by the fate of the people and take over a sponsorship, because many children still live in extremely poor conditions.

There is a wealth of information on the Internet about what happened back then. And who would like to concern themselves seriously with this topic, will find information easily.
The book „Shake hands with the devil“ by Roméo Dallaire is an authentic and shocking testimony to the events of that time. Therefore I highly recommend it for reading.
The very shattering book is a very impressive testimony of what happened then and what role the UN played in this whole process.

It is really a miracle what has happened in Rwanda since then. Let us hope for the country that such things will finally be a thing of the past.

At the same time, however, I am thinking of the people who today are victims of war and genocide!
Interestingly enough, the Gisozi Genocide Memorial in Kigali provides information about the genocides of the 20th century at the end of the exhibition. And I think this is very important! Because it shows that such crimes happen worldwide – and unfortunately again and again!
After the Holocaust, the so-called „world community“ swore that such a destruction of entire peoples would never happen again. But what has happened since then and is still happening?
As complex as the causes of such wars may be – they are crimes!
And we must not resign ourselves to it, even if the fight against it is laborious or even seems hopeless. If it did not exist, then our earth would have been destroyed long ago. That is why I ask everyone to do what they can to promote a successful coexistence of all people. That is enough – because if everyone does it, it will have a great effect in the end.

Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator

Actions speak louder than words

Schlagwörter

Africa, business, challenge, charity, Children, distress, donation, Education, emergency, first aid, handicap, hardship, housing, impaired, Information, living situation, obstacles, one world, poverty, relief, Rwanda, scholarship, sponsorship, stipendium, struggle, support, survival, survive, trade

(This article was published first on November 24, 2017, in German only. Here comes the English translation)

L. and K. are the children of A. and have attended the New Life Nursery & Primary School for one year.

The school director contacted Dietmar while in Germany with the unfortunate news that a Ecumenical 1World-Group (OWG) supported mother had fallen into a difficult situation. Immediately after recently returning to Rwanda, the telephone rang. It was the school director and he was urging Dietmar to quickly come to him for conversation of resolution.

In February 2017 Pastor Gerhard, Susan and Dietmar met with this director. At that time, the mother and her children seemed to all be in good condition. Her business was developing nicely and to the point where the additional income supported a new living standard for her small family.

In March her home was broken into…again. This brought her total number of break-ins to four. Each time personal items were taken, but more tragic was that all of her goods ready for market were stolen. It is obvious that her victimization was systematic and from people within her locale. It is well-know in the surrounding neighborhoods that she receives European (white) support. This is motivation enough, coupled with the common assumption that she would always receive more money, for she and her family to be targeted.

To make matters even worse, the mother had been ill for the four week transition between May and June and had been further humbled by having to borrow grocery money from the school director.

It is easy for Dietmar to reflect through his similar experiences of prejudice. When an indigenous person has a relationship with a white European, the jealousy, envy, resentment and hate erupts from relatives, „friends“ and neighbors. The contempt is even seen in the disapproving glances of complete strangers. This particular family lives in one of the poorest regions of eastern Rwanda. It is near Uganda. The entire area is owned by wealthy absentee ranchers and land owners, who spend their time at their villas in Kigali.

The local population is impoverished and survives from day to day. Unfortunately it is ingrained into their society that they observe one another with a jealous eye. Whenever individuals elevate themselves from the norm, this knee-jerk social mechanism automatically engages to undermine the achiever. As soon as a family is (white) supported, there is jealousy and an accompanying feeling that the recipient family has become selfish and greedy.

Since the family has joined the local church and the children have integrated into the school, they are receiving the inclusive attention and social acceptance which they rightfully deserve. Dietmar is sincerely appreciative of the working relationship which has developed between himself and the school director. Dietmar recognizes the director as a valuable contact and capable mediator who has the best interests of the mother and her children at heart.

One of their first decisions was to improve the family’s housing arrangement. For a long time they lived in a remote hut located in a cornfield. Obviously the isolation made it an easily broken into target.

• The objective is to locate a living quarters in a safe neighborhood in the center of the village. The building must have a door and windows reinforced with steel.
• The prospective neighbors will be interviewed, informed and solicited to participate in respectful attention given to the family.
• The rent for the first three months will be payed from the general fund of OWG.
• The objective ideally would be to secure a large enough residence where the mother’s wares can be stored. If this is not possible, a separate warehouse facility will be rented. The financing for replenishing the stolen inventory will come from OWG.

Pastor Gerhard comes to Rwanda in February. Susan and Dietmar are planning to visit her with Gerhard. The delegation of three is anxious to see her progress, as she appears to be a very capable, creative businesswoman.

The course of events through this endeavor of supporting a talented and industrious family achieve their financial footing has been rewarding. They now have a firm business foundation upon which their living standard will only improve. Dietmar reflects with satisfaction, helping these impoverished Rwandans to achieve a better life gives renewed meaning to what OWG is all about.

Generally we support poor families. Some families, with children who could be students, are so destitute that they could never imagine coming up with tuition fees. There are the deserted mothers or the children with no relationship to a living relative. There are those with a home made of adobe and a corrugated-tin roof, no table, no chair, no bed. The morning is met with hunger and off to school. Sleep at day’s end is also met with hunger, as they lie on a piece of cardboard or reed mat. We have 7 such children. Thanks to their foster parents, they have a little something of which other childern have none…hope.

This reality is easy to understand. It does very little good to send a hungry child to school out of incomprehensible abject poverty. The mind will not engage when the stomach is groaning in anguish. From an imagined perfect world, where OWG had unlimited resources, Dietmar has come to the opinion that our first priority is elevate living standard, therefore maximizing the educational opportunity.

His experience has repeatedly confirmed that assistance only lasts when followed through with strict observation and analysed results. This insures that the accompanying cultural, social and economic conditions are positively impacted. Without such financial controls in place, an at-risk recipient family’s living circumstances would quickly deteriorate. The distribution of our fosterparent and patron monies must remain purpose-driven with the singular focus: elevate standard-of-living. The ultimate priority is to protect our recipient’s dignity and bolster their social well-being. Dietmar strongly recommends this philosophic shift in thinking into our OWG decision making process.

Dietmar is making the request that our foster parents consider the positive result which would come from broadening their support so as to iinclude the universal well-being of the entire family. The positive impact would be paramount!

Dietmar and Susan want to express their sincere appreciation to all our OWG fosterparents. Your life-line of support is the only avenue for these mothers and their children to have any sense of personal dignity. Your loyalty, to your chosen fosterchild and the overall well-being of OWG, fuels Dietmar and Susan’s fortitude and encourages them in their commitment to the everyday tasks at hand.

BTW: In the meantime of his article, the family described above has moved into a secure housing which conveniently has a view of the city market. This entrepreneurial mother sincerely thanks the supporting foster parents for covering her three months rent and the finances to purchase the necessary raw materials so as to get back into business.

So…the OWG beat goes on !

[ Translation: Mr Randell K. Anderson ]