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World Vision celebrates resilience of Rwandans
April 02, 2004
World Vision Canada president Dave Toycen and emergency specialist Philip Maher return to Rwanda this weekend, a decade after the genocide that left more than 800,000 Rwandans dead and another two million people fleeing for their lives. They will join World Vision Rwanda staff at official ceremonies to honour those who were killed and those who survived to rebuild their country.
Toycen and Maher were among the first relief workers on the ground in Rwanda, along with World Vision's John Schenk, whose original video footage helped to break the news of the atrocities around the world.
In the 10 years since the genocide, World Vision has been working continuously with the Rwandan people. Emergency relief was first provided to victims of the genocide and those fleeing the conflict. When peace was restored, infrastructure reconstruction and peace and reconciliation initiatives were undertaken.
"At the time of the genocide, evil was palpable, and as aid workers we talked a lot about the effort it would take to heal the communities," Toycen recalls. "So I am encouraged by the grace of many Rwandans who have forgiven each other and who have begun to work together to rebuild and heal their country. This healing, however, is a process that needs to be nurtured, so Rwanda and the surrounding region can build peaceful and productive relationships."
Today, World Vision has established 19 long-term development programs in eight Rwandan provinces, providing assistance to 800,000 people in a country of about eight million people.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian relief and development organization active in more than 90 countries around the world, providing help to more than 85 million people each year.
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