Friends' Peace House

On Sunday after church we talked with Joyce’s husband, Gaston, (Joyce was our first language helper) and he invited us to visit the school/center he works at. So Monday morning we met him at the church and we walked up the hill to the center. It is called “Friends’ Peace House”. “Friends” because it is a department of the Friends church and “Peace” because they are promoting peace and reconciliation. They take in street kids and genocide orphans and help them with their education. The young ones (primary school) are placed in local schools and in families. They try to keep the kids with their own family members whenever possible.

The older ones they also try to find homes for them but they do have about 10 teenage boys who sleep there. They have schooling for the older ones on their site. In addition to making sure they can read and write, they teach them a trade like sewing, carpentry, welding, cooking, hair cutting/braiding, etc. They also have counseling to help them with trauma, forgiveness, reconciliation, acceptance, trust, AIDS and any other issues. They have monthly get-togethers with former students – many who are now married with kids – and share what they are doing now and pray for each other. If someone has a financial need, they take up collections and help each other out.

We spoke with the superintendent and he said that teenagers and young adults are still dealing with issues because of the genocide and, of course, many of them lost their whole family structure so they don’t have the traditional support system that they should have. He also said that before the genocide, 95% of Rwandans claimed to be “Christian”. Obviously, it was only a claim and not a strong heart changing belief. They want the young people today to realize that knowing Christ personally can change their lives and that they can live in peace with their neighbors, no matter what ethnic group they are in.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go into the classrooms but it was interesting to hear from the folk who are working there and to know what they are doing. We are glad to see the church taking on the challenges of working with the youth and trying to change the outlook of this generation.

Gaston is leaving for the U.S. this week to join up with a team from around the world. They will be performing dances from their countries. The purpose is to show unity and peace. He is going to Maryland. It is his first time going to the US and he is very excited! He himself is an orphan from the genocide and was taken in by some American missionaries who made sure he got an education. He is a very nice young man and has a real heart for underprivileged and neglected kids.