By Hannah A.
Hello to our friends and family! We have spent the last week in the rolling hills of southwestern Rwanda at a picturesque project called L’esperance. L’esperance began as an orphanage in 1994 after a tragic genocide destroyed the country and functioned as such until 2014, when the Rwandan government outlawed orphanages, claiming that they had served their purpose. Later, the project served as a haven for women who were victims of sexual assault and their children. Now, L’esperance and its purpose are in limbo, with limited staff, no women, and no children.
While some of our time was devoted to clearing forests and maintaining orchards, most of our time was spent reflecting, talking, and eating lots of yummy food. We also attempted (key word) to carve gorillas out of wood. During our down time, the main director Victor, a passionate and devoted Guatemalan ex-pat, explained to us the frustrations he has had with foreign aid, especially when the government has opposing ideas.
In stark contrast to the progressive Rwandan image we had earlier been exposed to, a picture of a more complex Rwanda took shape. Those who dissent are often jailed, and many reported statistics regarding the true state of Rwanda have been fabricated in order to impress the international community. This new perspective came as a shock for those of us with the notion that Rwanda’s government is an ideal example of development in Africa. While the United States certainly has its flaws, I have realized that we are very lucky to have the ability to not only think critically about our government but also to voice such opinions freely.
I also want to focus on the fact that although Rwanda’s government is not all it seems, the people we have met here are all continually inspiring. Take Prince, Victor’s co-director at L’esperance. He survived the trauma of 1994 and as courageous enough to share his story with us. Despite the tragedy he endured, he remains compassionate, loving, and most importantly: hopeful. His resilience is reflected in each Rwandan we have encountered. There is sustained hope that one day true reconciliation will come and Rwanda will truly become the country it projects itself to be.
Much love!!!
