Photo Essay

What struck me about the genocide testimony

Im elizabeth, I just wanted to talk bout the genocide in Rwanda. Many people died, is just unbelevable! We had some visitors today, this guy was just explaining to us what had happen in Rwanda during the genocide, he was one of the pepole who were there and he saw everything that happen and actually he participate in the killing of the Tutsi. He was trying to apologize to Tutsi’s youths in the conference about what happen….. some people seem to have understood and forgive him. It was really hard for him to explain everything….that happened

I just wanna advice all youth all over the World, i think we should learn of what happen in Rwanda, and take it like an example. The genocide is so serious lets pray about it, and pray for Rwanda so that such a thing will never ever happen in our World.
thanks

Elizabeth Masolele
From Tanzania

Greetings from Gaylord Thomas

Sharing life experience by the youth in Rwanda

The youth started sharing their life experiences early in the morning. This was quite interesting since some of the youth were free and open to share their life experience with the rest. Those who shared include; Elizabeth (USA), Diane (Rwanda), Yvette (Rwanda), Magreth (Rwanda), Therance (Burundi), Mark (Rwanda). All these gave their life testimonies and it was really sad and touching. Even some of the youth started crying from sorrow because of their life experience. The fact the youth felt comfortable enough to share their moving stories was really exciting and encouraging.                                                                               — Dorice Mutoni, Mutesi Florence & Mutesi Genevive

NEWS RELEASE NO. 2

GREAT LAKES YOUTH GATHERING IN KIGALI, RWANDA

 

27^th March, 2008 Kigali, Rwanda- The Rwanda Youth Gathering opened today in a colorful ceremony presided over by Bishop George Kalisa of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda, at the Presbyterian centre Itito Isano.

 

Bishop Kalisa in his opening speech stressed the importance of the gathering since it brought together other youth from other countries. Bishop thanked the conveners who made it possible for the conference to be held in Rwanda. He went further to say -‘the youth are the art of the World’, and urged ELCA to hold such meeting/ conference annually noting that such conference offered opportunity for youth growth.

 

The head of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda recognized the presence of other youth from Catholic, Anglicans, Presbyterians and Islam who had been invited in the conference. He sighted the conference as inter-faith youth gathering geared towards finding a lasting solution to peace and reconciliation.

 

Youth can transform the World….

‘This conference presents an opportunity to learn, share thoughts and ideas on how to change the World by becoming peaceful…enhance forgiveness’- said the Bishop. In the opening speech Bishop reiterated the need to forgive our enemies. He urged all the youth participants to visit the Rwanda genocide museum as a constant remembrance of need for peace and co-existence among brothers and sisters.

 

Bishop Kalisa concluded that all humanity looks upon the youth to help in transforming the World into a better place. He added that this was only possible if -‘young people use God’s gifts to distinguish between good and evil…. And make choices for peace’.

 

Mr. Frank Kobukyeye- Director Peace Building and Conflict Management (NURC) presented at the youth conference the strategies used by Rwanda after the genocide to restore peace and promote national healing and unity. Frank said that ‘genocide isn’t only about approving death penalty but is based on respect for law and human rights’.

 

NURC Director underlined poverty as an huge hindrance to successive reconciliation. For reconciliation to succeed – ‘it (reconciliation) has to address the economic issues’, Frank concluded.

 

The Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR), in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is hosting a conference on youth leadership here in Kigali, Rwanda. More than 80-100 youth, including international and regional participants are streaming into Rwanda beginning today to discuss ecumenism, reconciliation, and poverty alleviation. The conference has three components: dialogue with church leaders and small group discussions; genocide memorial visit and reconciliation workshops; launching and building capacity of youth-led income generation projects.

Media training session at the ELCA Rwanda gathering.

The media training started on wednesday at Presbyterian centre, and it was intresting because,we met George and Alysia and they were able to share with us about blogs,how to upload photos,and how to use flip videos.and at  the end of the day,we managed to take some photos and videos,and we found it intresting.The same training continued to the following day at the Novotel hotel (because we had no internet access at our venue) ,but this time,we tried to do it in our own,which was fun.

 Mutesi Florence- youth from Rwanda

Excitement from youth-gathering registration.

The participants from youth gathering started arriving early in the morning. They started registering immediately after the arrival. It was really interesting, since all participants were willing to praise God by singing and dancing. The conference in Kigali started out as a great success.
We the media team composed of Dorice, Flora, Genevieve with the help of our experts George and Alycia took pictures of the youth that were registering. 

Participants begin to arrive in Rwanda

The Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR), in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is hosting a conference on youth leadership here in Kigali, Rwanda. More than 80-100 youth, including international and regional participants are streaming into Rwanda beginning today to discuss ecumenism, reconciliation, and poverty alleviation.  The conference will have three components:  dialogue with church leaders and small group discussions; genocide memorial visit and reconciliation workshops; launching and building capacity of youth-led income generation projects.

Participants from Kenya, Uganda, Dominical Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, USA, Namibia and Rwanda converge at the Eglise Presbyterienne Au Rwanda;

The story of an IDP woman in Kenya

The ELCA video training was postponed in January 2008 due to post election violence. So the training finally took place in March and all the participants had an opportunity to visit Mathare IDP camp for video clips.

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