Beautiful Rwanda … 22 years after the Genocide
This
is a picture of Kigali, a thriving part of the “new” Rwanda. A
friend of mine was given the gift of a trip to Rwanda and when she
shared her journey with us she was bursting with excitement and
praise for this small country that has made such an amazing come
back.
I
don't think she would mind if I share her words with you: “
Today
Rwanda is bursting with energy, the people filled with pride about
how they have all come together to build a new and exciting country…
the spirit is absolutely contagious. Everyone smiles ...a lot...and
there is great pride in the direction the country is moving.”
One
of the facts that she shared really caught my attention. Today
Rwanda is number one in the world in the percentage of women in the
Legislature ... 64%. How I wish we could say the same for our
country. As of this writing the U.S. is at number 25 !
Many of you know that I have long been active in Kiva ... the worldwide organization that gives mini loans to people in need to help them start their own businesses. In August of 2009 I chose a man named Theodomil in Rwanda.
I
was just one of the many who put up $25 and his goal of $900 was soon
met. He actually paid the loan back before it was due and, when I
last checked, his business was thriving.
Theodomil is just one of the millions of men and women in Rwanda who have put the past behind them and are working passionately to make their country an example of dignity and success. Can we say the same?
posted by Ginnie at 5:00 PM
7 Comments:
What a nice thing you are doing. It is good to help others pull themselves up by the bootstraps.
Yes, KIVA is a great way to help the world - one person at a time. Tho, actually, by helping this ONE man, who knows how many others you have helped! His family? Those that utilize his business? His entire village?
A neighbor was bragging last week that he spent over $700 on Christmas lights to put on his new house (they just moved here from NJ). Can you imagine how much good that would have done at an organization like KIVA? How many lives he could have changed instead of a bunch of poor folks in China working for a buck a day making those lights?
Well, I am proud of you. Wish we had a lot more folks like you! The world would be a better place!
It is wonderful to hear such great news about Rwanda.
Yay Kiva. I support them too.
Now there's a feel good success story.
Kiva is wonderful.
And when my children ask--Mom, what do you want for Christmas (or birthday), I frequently say "a gift certificate for Kiva."
And that's what I got this Christmas--which I have now loaned to two women entrepreneurs, one in Palestine, one in Kenya.
Read Smantha Power's book 'Problem from Hell' last year. Many have not come back from this awful tragedy I fear.
Thanks for the reminder about Kiva, Ginnie. And for sharing the story of Theo's success. In a world full of not-so-good news, this was good to read.
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