Executive Director’s Welcome to Rwandan Youth to Join the Center:
It is a great pleasure to introduce myself to you. As a young woman affected by the Genocide, I know the importance of the Rwanda Youth Healing Center. I have observed the RYHC transform lives of many Rwandan youth over the past four years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in social work and experience in working with vulnerable people in a leadership role. I have worked for different NGOs, including Partners in Health as a Free Child Survival Coordinator. Since January 2010, I served as a full-time Staff Director for the Center. I became its Executive Director in January 2011, I am committed to working and being a family member of RYHC because we are like a family, a family, whose bonds are strong.
“When I came to the Center, I was very quiet because of many wounds from losing my parents. I appreciated being with others and met people who had more wounds than me. When I first arrived, I couldn’t stand and say anything in front of people; but now I can speak, I have confidence and I feel valuable.”
This is one among many other testimonies of youth who joined the Center after the Genocide of 1994. The Center’s work consists of supporting Rwandan youth and young adults with the support they need to heal from the psychological wounds of genocide trauma to become healthy, engaged, and responsible adults. We meet and share personal successes and struggles.
When you join us during one of our meetings that we call “Program day,” you will find youth discussing a range of topics that help in fighting isolation and facilitate healing. They include experience sharing, storytelling and personal goals sharing. You will benefit from individual counseling and group counseling. We build friendships, play sports, dance and sing.
For this year 2011, we still have two such events that will be held in the Ruhango District. We have a Program day on 06 November 2011 and a weekend forum on 17-18 December 2011.
We invite all youth to join us to share those unique moments in building our future. We invite you also, friends of youth, to come and encourage us. Your presence and support is a source of joy for us.
Sincerely,
N. Safari Solange
RYHC Executive Director
