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| © U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Naugle |
After a warm welcome from Rita and Flavia, our UNICEF-Rwanda colleagues, we were driven into the hills of Kigali to Hotel des Millle Collines. Known to many in the world as Hotel Rwanda, we knew our quarters for the week were going to have as much to say about the country and its culture as our UNICEF hosts.
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| © U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Naugle |
A good night's rest prepared us for a Sunday morning visit to the Kigali Memorial Center. In order to fully capture how UNICEF continues its aid to Rwanda, we opted to visit the Center which focuses on the Rwandan genocide - before, during and after - as well as genocides in other countries such as Germany, Poland, Bosnia and Cambodia. Outside lay the graves of over 250,000 people who had died and more are still being created as remains continue to be found. We lay floral wreaths as we pay our respects.
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| © U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Naugle |
We then toured the city and learned that each of the thousand hills has a name - Gisozi, Remera, Kibagabaga, to name a few. As we drove through these hills, we passed fields of tomato, broccoli, cabbage, corn, avacado, papaya, beans and peas. Much of the business in Rwanda is subsistence farming while some crops are exported such as coffee and tea. Bananas are also produced here with a whopping 70 percent going towards the production of banana beer, a wine-like beverage we have yet to taste. They also harvest cattle, goat, sheep and cow for meat and milk products while they import sugar and rice. The land is very arable with sufficient rainfall but land is best near the volcanic regions. Potatoes are the cash crop in those areas.
Since the time of the genocide, the country has been healing both economically and emotionally. Trials continue to punish those who confess or are turned in for performing unforgivable acts of violence 13 years ago. Dr. Jane Muita, UNICEF's HIV/AIDS specialist, tells us that there are many indicators measuring success in the healing process in a culture that is embracing forgiveness. Among them include school advancement and an increase in marriages. These successes demonstrate hope and a vision for the future. But the most important measure, she notes, is that this country of beautiful people is full of smiles. That is an indicator that cannot be challenged.
We look forward to an overview of UNICEF in Rwanda tomorrow as well as some visits to some health care sites. Please come back and visit again!
