Our partner in Rwanda is Solace Ministries, a grassroots organisation established after the genocide in 1995 by survivors to assist other survivors, particularly widows, orphans and women and girls infected with HIV.

Solace Ministries strives to meet the needs of those who are suffering in a holistic manner, by providing them with physical, psychological, material and spiritual care. The organisation is ecumenical and welcomes individuals of all faiths. Solace Ministries is run by Jean Gakwandi, staffed by 26 full-time and part-time employees and is currently reaching over 5,632 families of widows and orphans in 57 communities through various activities (e.g. education, shelter, health care, counselling, sewing/handicraft making activities and agricultural projects for which plots of land have been acquired). Its main office is in Kigali and there are three regional centres in Nyanza, Kabuga and Nyamata, which were established to facilitate access to rural Rwandans. Individuals in need have benefited from a new family and acquired a sense of purpose as a result of the activities Solace Ministries provides. The survivor-run organization exemplifies how the support of one survivor enables the support of other survivors.

Solace Ministries currently reaches 686 identified women and girls who were raped during the genocide and diagnosed HIV-positive, of which 303 are receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, as medically recommended. The main office in Kigali houses a clinic which provides ARV treatment and other medical services to its beneficiaries. One full-time doctor, nurse, social worker and counsellor work at the clinic. Counselling and medical care is also provided in the homes of beneficiaries when required.

• Please watch the short films about the work of Solace Ministries for survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Film 1 features an interview with Jean Gakwandi. Film 2 features support services for survivors.  

• For more information about the work of Solace Ministries, see the links to partner organisations and NGOs supporting their work as well as the website of Solace Ministries itself.

Our partner in Rwanda: Solace Ministries

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