Our final days in Africa

Apologies to those lovely people who have tried to post comments on my blog, I only just realised I needed to change the settings so feel free to post a comment now...I'd love to hear what you think!

On Friday we finally managed to take a visit to Heal Africa which is very close to our hotel in Goma. This organisation was founded in 1998 by Dr. Kasereka Lusi and his wife, Lyn, a British social activist.
They had an inspiring vision which has since manifested a holistic health care centre, provisions of which include the specialised surgical repair of vaginal fistulas, a result of violent rape. The work extends to training health professionals, strengthening social activists and providing physical, spiritual and social healing.

Virginie Mumbere, Admin. finance Director, kindly took the time to give us a tour. The surroundings and design is lovely and tranquil, conducive to healing. There is a programme for women called HEALing Arts, which provides occupational skills for those who are waiting for and healing from fistula surgery. They had a beautiful range of handmade skirts, bags and bracelets for sale that had been made by the women. They also have access to business and marketing training to support them in the future.

As we toured we saw wards some of which had 2 to a bed due to lack of resources and such high demand. There are many volunteers amongst the diverse staff team and they have some support from Doctors Without Borders which is a humanitarian NGO who recruit voluntary medical and non-medical staff to work in war-torn regions in the world.

This was our last day in Goma before heading back to Rwanda and it feels good to leave knowing that this trip has been successful in many ways. This is an area considered by the Foreign Commonwealth office as being unsafe and only for essential travelling. The world's media perpetuate the view that the Congo as well as many other African countries are dangerous and inaccessible. Our trip has proved that it is possible to visit places like the Congo and enjoy the beauty of the culture and land as well as reach out to people who are in much need of support from our global community. I have never for one moment before or during this entire trip, ever felt unsafe. I know that Kris will say the same too. If we allow our belief systems to be shaped by these influences we will be controlled beyond measure.

Yesterday, we visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial here in Rwanda.
Before I came here I struggled with understanding how the genocide and consequent conflicts arose. I needed the historical context to understand and it is clear what the influences are. The sophisticated manipulation of a country carried out in the late 1800's and early 1900's, by the European Imperialist powers, Christian Catholic Church and media served to rape the land of it natural rich resources and plant the seeds of the genocide firmly within it. The Hutu (80%), Tutsi (15%) and the Twa (5%) had lived side by side in relative peace before the country was colonised. To begin with, colonialists gave themselves the right to determine the Rwandans 'ethnicity' by how they looked and what they owned in their farming. Those considered to be Tutsis were given dominant economic power and status over the rest of the population. The Church then supported this division by introducing teachings which stated that Hutu's were the superior group. Along with the power of propaganda engineered by the media, this classic 'divide and rule' method was extremely successful at driving a wedge between Rwandans with devasting consequences for the future. These corrupt global powers were evident during the genocide when the United nations pulled UN troops out of the country. They were directed to evacuate aid staff and leave the country they were there to serve to suffer savage murder. It is thought that the number of UN troops ordered to abandon Rwanda would have been enough to actually call a halt to and stop the genocide. This genocide was allowed to occur and the motives behind the power structures like the UN need to be questioned. Who are they serving?

Despite these negative influences in our world, it is possible to create a shift of consciousness in the world through grass roots means. I feel our trip was very successful at contributing to this change.
Kris has already begun planning more voluntary trips for next year in the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Next time it will involve groups of Theta Healers doing this work with a team of interpreters and a film crew. I will be joining to help co-ordinate the trip and I am very excited at all the possibilities and the impact this Divine healing will have. It's going to be amazing!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog! :)

Tootaonana!!
(Goodbye)

Lynsey