Reconciliation Projects

Having completed Kaburiro Health Centre in

the Nyamasheke District, one of the poorest 

regions in the country, we were asked to 

support the building of a new Reconciliation

Centre in Gitsimbwe, the village from where

Bishop Samuel Kayinamura originates.

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​An old building already existed and this was

demolished and some of the bricks reused in

the new building. It was once again a 

community effort, local labour under the 

guidance and watchful eye of a skilled builder.

This is such a skills-building opportunity for 

particularly young men, as they now have experience for future builds. The Trust supported the purchase of new bricks and in July 2017 the outer shell was complete apart from the roof, which was the next step prior to work starting on the inside of the building. However, we all understood that to fund a roof of this size could take some time!

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                                                                                           Our fundraising continued and by the end of

                                                                                           the first year the roof was on, just prior to

                                                                                           the rainy season. Windows and doors were

                                                                                           then fitted before work moved indoors. It took

                                                                                           until 2019 for work to be completed, as the 

                                                                                           Trust continued to fund smaller projects

                                                                                           alongside this big venture. However, in

                                                                                           December 2019 the Reconciliation Centre was

                                                                                           officially opened by Bishop Samuel

                                                                                           Kayinamura and Heather Thomas. This

                                                                                           building is used as a place of worship, a 

                                                                                           community centre, a building for health, 

                                                                                           education and skills training and a place where two schools on the adjoining site can meet for special assemblies etc, as neither have a large hall on their site. 

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This is a very special community, Gitsimbwe

was a place of great sadness and slaughter

during the 1994 Genocide as it is on the edge

of Lake Kivu and there was nowhere for the

local Tutsi community to flee when the

killings started. Many lives were lost and 

reconciliation has taken many years of hard

work and forgiveness. So to be able to 

support the building of this Reconciliation

Centre to continue this good work makes

us very proud as a Trust.