Great Lakes Region of Africa
This is a region of East Africa encompassing Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Kivu, Lake Alberta and Lake Edward. It includes the countries of Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. These countries have been the focus of conflict, and political and economic challenges associated with post-colonial nation-building. Poverty, development and human rights concerns create the context for positive engagement on the part of international relief and development groups to come alongside local initiatives.
Rwanda
Rwanda is a small landlocked country in East Africa. The country struggles through a legacy of ethnic tension that culminated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. During a 100-day period, more than 800,000 people were killed.
Development and reconciliation are underway following the 1994 genocide. While great progress has been made, tremendous relief and development efforts are still needed, particularly in rural Rwanda.
Bugesera is a dry and arid region of Southern Rwanda. More than half the population of Bugesera was killed in the genocide. Among other initiatives in Rwanda, the Westview team will visit a number of initiatives in Bugesera established to pursue healing and reconciliation, address areas of extreme poverty, and equip local church leaders and congregations.
Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) partners with local churches to bring hope, healing and reconciliation through word and deed. Canadian Foodgrains Bank supports food security initiatives in Rwanda, working to support local agricultural production.