RWANDA: "MUGANDA"- COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY

"MUGANDA" - COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY 

Muganda Morning!

Every the last Saturday of the month. "Muganda" is an ancient custom and the word denotes it's origins when each member of a community would contribute one tree to the building of a house for someone. It has been revitalized by the President of Rwanda for the purpose of restoring unity to the peoples of the country and for helping with community projects. As you know, the fabric of the Rwandan society was torn by the Genocide, which took place in 1994. This was not an isolated event, as smaller atrocities occurred from 1959 on. This stemmed from the way the Belgian colonists divided the tribes, using the minority Tutsis to govern the majority Hutus (85%). (This reminded me how the Polish aristocracy used the Jews as the tax collectors, earning them the status of a despised minority.)

Morning shot of Volcanoes

We hauled volcanic rocks out of a stream bed and carried to a road in need of repair. We were accompanied by Pastor Gerrard, who tore some palm fronds off a tree and made them into a protective head covering so we could carry them on our heads. The young children were drawn to us, carrying small stone in their hands, and holding one of our hands as we walked. We walked back and forth with very large stones on our heads about five times, in line with perhaps 150 other Rwandans.

Community Service Work - gathering rocks

Fixing Potholes 

Yo with his kid helpers

 Once the job was done, a local meeting was called and these residents gathered to hear their local leaders, who mostly harangued them about individuals drinking too much at the end of the year, wife beaters and child abusers, and criminal activities in the area.  People spoke out about solving problems, speaking openly about not repeating solutions that didn't work last year and such. 

Community Meeting

  Two young people, a brother and sister, attached themselves to us and did some translating and discussing with us. The young woman took a turn to speak as the leader of the local young people. Her focus is on exposing domestic abuse.  

Young Woman Leader speaking about exposing Domestic Abuse

At the end, the local leader asked them to introduce us. Joanie spoke about our work in Rwanda and the Pastor told everyone we were Israelites. All this brought out a great deal of applause and smiles.