Birashoboka: It is possible! | richard-taylor

The Rwandan proverb—“Umwana apfa mu iterura"—is literally translated “a spoiled child comes out of its birth.” This proverb emphasizes that children learn how to behave from their upbringing and acknowledges the essential role that parents and guardians in all societies have in forming the next generation.

When Wellspring first started working with the teachers of more than 10,000 public school children in Rwanda, we did not realize the opportunity we would have to minister directly to parents. Yet our Parenting Program is emerging as an important part of our effort to empower a new generation of Rwandan leaders through quality Christian values based education.

The Parents Program—developed by Wellspring volunteer Olive Bugembe and led in coordination with Parenting Course Facilitator Jeanne Tuyisenge—is focused on working alongside PTA leaders and parents, to facilitate healing in their communities, to help them understand their important role as parents in raising their children, and to help them gain a vision for how their community can support the efforts of its teachers to educate their children.

Nowhere has this been more necessary than in Ruhanga Primary School. The parents in this rural school community still carry deep wounds and unresolved pain left over from the Genocide. Over the past several months, Wellspring has trained three individuals chosen by the community to become presenters and teach their fellow parents.

One of the presenters—Annonciata—had several members of her family killed by her husband’s family and has learned how to forgive them. Another presenter—Deogratias—has 10 children, five of his own and five orphans whom he and his wife have taken in. Deogratias is so thankful for the change that Wellspring has helped to bring to the relationship between parents and the school administration. There used to be constant animosity, but now they are beginning to appreciate each other for who they are and what they do.

On March 25th, another group of more than 50 parents gathered. These parents are eager to see healing brought to their community for their children’s future. They want peace and love to replace their anger and hatred so that their children will never have to endure the pain they have suffered. The parents at Ruhanga agreed and cried out in unison:

As the world takes a moment to stop and remember this 15th Anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, I am simultaneously sobered by the past and excited about the future. One reason is the healing happening among parents in the schools we serve.

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