Performance Report Year: 2023
Peace Education by Rev. Philip van Wijk;
In February 2023, A Cup for Humanity hosted a training workshop for church leaders on understanding the root causes of violence and ways to reduce it. Over a period of 6 days, a total of 330 church leaders and other parishioners attended the training. Workshops were organized in three different locations in Rwanda, namely Kayonza (Eastern Province), Kabeza (city of Kigali), and Huye (Southern Province). The training was given by Rev. Philip van Wijk, a peacebuilding specialist from the Netherlands, and Paul Mutama, pastor and interpreter, a staff member of A Cup for Humanity in Rwanda
Rev. Philip van Wijk highlighted three main causes of violence, namely the copying of desire, the copying of rivalry, and the scapegoating mechanism. According to him, we all desire what others desire because we imitate their desires, which leads to natural rivalry and ultimately scapegoating. Therefore, our capacity for aggression or the tendency to compassion is mimicked. Even our own concepts, opinions, likes, and dislikes are based on a complex web of influences and experiences that escape our immediate attention.
He used the case of Jesus to illustrate not only how forgiveness plays a crucial role in bringing about reconciliation, but also how violence should be addressed. This Christian approach to conflict is bearing fruit in the communities we visited, where former rivals embrace.
Training for lay consultants by Psychotherapist Jannetta Bos.
From 3 to 14 July 2023, A Cup for Humanity organised a special training for lay mental health counsellors in Rwanda. The training was given at two different locations; one in the Sovu sector, the Huye district in the southern part of Rwanda, and one in the city of Nyamata.
The majority of the 46 participants are survivors of the genocide that took place in 1994, who, despite having been through so much, are highly motivated to help their fellow man. Some from Huye had to walk for 3 hours every day to attend the workshop and three hours back because they didn’t have money for a bus ticket, until we heard about it and were able to support them. In the very practical experiential workshops, people learned what experiencing severe trauma can cause and what they can do about it. They learned to apply Narrative Exposure Therapy, a form of trauma treatment in which a ribbon symbolizes the lifeline along which flowers are placed in chronological order for the good events in life, stones for the traumatic events, candles for the deceased/murdered loved ones and finally a twig for perpetrator behavior. The events are then discussed in detail, with the counsellor also acting as a witness. After all, many traumatic events, including crimes against humanity, must remain hidden. They practiced with their own lifeline. Much experience has been gained with this highly transferable method in refugee camps in Uganda and Sudan, where non-professionals, who often lived in unstable conditions, were trained. Again, the receptivity was great. People felt relief about their own traumas and felt the power of evoking the good experiences that life has also brought them. One participant said that as a fourteen-year-old boy, he was the only member of his family to survive the genocide. His father, mother, siblings (including a little sister), grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews were all murdered. He felt totally lost and started drinking alcohol as a form of self-medication to try to feel the pain less. Eventually, he came into contact with a church and received help for his traumas. Step by step, he even forgave his perpetrators. An incredible effort. Now he dedicates himself to fellow human beings in need. Everyone felt deeply touched by his testimony.
The workshop(s) ended with the creation of several resilience groups that will teach others about basic trauma care. Three groups (6 members each) were established in Huye and three others in Nyamata. We also received an unexpected invitation to tell 600 churchgoers in the Rusatira sector in Huye district. We were warmly welcomed by a large crowd eagerly awaiting trauma care. Jannetta Bos taught about the effects of trauma and what can be done to take steps to heal.
Visit Aad van den Bos, chairman of A Cup for Humanity, and his wife Jeannette.
We visited Rwanda from October 13 to 27, 2023. We first visited the family of Paul Mutama on Sunday 15 October and the Evangelical church in Kigali. We stayed at the hotel ‘One Click Hotel’ in Kigali. On Monday the 16th we visited the Huye district in the south of Rwanda and stayed there for three days in the lighthouse of the hotel. From there we visited the church in Huye which is led by pastor John Ruvuruga. There they told us about Philip and Jannetta’s successful project. That is the project on peace education and training for lay consultants.
Nepo, a member of that church and a leader of lay counselors, talked about the groups they started and how such groups are growing. Initially, 3 groups were created. One in the village of Kigombe, another in Rusagara and Sovu. Each group consisted of 6 members. Because of their reach in the community, all groups have expanded from 18 to 78 members. We are happy to see that the program is yielding positive results in the community. Nepo also spoke about the problems they face as lay consultants. Since they are volunteers, it is not easy for them to help people with complicated matters. We promised to refer the matter to Jannetta for advice. We have also promised them that we will discuss the matter with the officials of MINUBUMWE with whom we have an appointment this week. We also visited the two families for the sponsored child and talked about the possibility of doing something with the sewing machines of the A Cup for Humanity Foundation. We also visited the Nyungwe forest near the border with Congo. In Nyungwe, we experienced the beauty of Rwanda and appreciated its determination for conservation. After our visit to Huye, we traveled back to Kigali.
On Sunday, October 22, 2023, we visited the Presbyterian Church in Kigali, maybe it will be a future partner for us to work with. We have made an appointment to meet with a pastor on Tuesday evening this week.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, we visited the groups of lay consultants that were created during the previous training on trauma therapy by Jannetta Bos. We were impressed by young people who are enthusiastic about helping people with mental health issues in their communities. From a group of 24 trainees, we were informed that the group has now expanded to 34. A great progress that we will continue to support. A Cup for Humanity is committed to guiding Rwanda’s mission to build a resilient, united, and prosperous country.
Shortly after our return, we had a board meeting on November 7, 2023. During this meeting, both Rev. Philip van Wijk and Jannetta Bos indicated that they wanted to continue the work they started in the year 2024. The entire board was very happy with this announcement.