Overview

Following the horrors of the ‘94 Rwandan genocide, the charity REACH for Rwanda has brought victims and perpetrators together to reconcile as well as to learn skills to build a brighter future.  As a trainee architect Ed will be in Rwanda for 8 weeks (November/December) working with REACH on an exciting new house building project. He will be working with ex-prisoners helping them gain skills they need to build a house for a homeless woman whose husband was killed during the genocide, but we urgently need a further £2000 to set up ‘a construction unity group’.

A 'construction unity group'

A group of 24 former prisoners have recently passed through REACH’s reconciliation program during which they revisited what happened to them in the genocide. This involves an act of repentance, in this instance the group will build a house for the victims.  As a sign of appreciation the victims will cook the culprits a meal. REACH believes this exchange of mutual respect is a vital part of the healing process. Furthermore, once the group has undergone training and assisted with the build of one house, they will then be equipped to build more houses. This will form the basis of what REACH terms a 'construction unity group', which will provide a business model for sustainable income.

REACH for Rwanda

REACH has been involved in trauma healing for 18 years. In that time they have trained over 22,000 people in trauma rehabilitation. REACH has also set up 16 ‘unity groups’, micro businesses that have provided a much-needed source of income, helping to lift families out of poverty, such as soap making, choirs and basket weaving. The charity has also built over 56 homes, and two community centres.

What your contribution will achieve

• The homeless victim's family will be provided with a good house.
• The perpetrators will gain the skill and experience they need to construct houses as well as  the tools they need to start a business.
• The project brings together victims and culprits of the genocide and through a process of exchange and giving helps Rwandans to reconcile and move forward.

Governance, time and budget

The funds donated from individuals and organisations through this Just Giving page will be collected by REACH for Rwanda, the UK registered charity and then will be released to the Rwandan arm of the charity. Rev. Philbert Kalisa, founder and director of REACH, and Edward Dale-Harris will supervise the expenditure of the funds in Rwanda. While Ed is overseeing the project between the 25th Oct - 17th Dec 2014. REACH has already raised the monies needed for the construction materials of one house (see image above).

The target sum £2,000 will be used to set up and run the 'construction unity group'. Up to 3,000 would enable us to look at a more innovative design and specification of the house. Typical costs are as follows: £8: training per person per day, £15: uniform per person, £2 per day sustenance, £1000 for a block machine. Please note Ed will not receive a fee for his work and will be paying for his own flights and living expenses.

About Edward Dale-Harris

Ed is a 5th year diploma architecture student at London Metropolitan University (The CASS) with one and half years experience in professional architecture practice at Squire and Partners, London. He has five months voluntary experience working on development projects in East Africa, including a month in Rwanda drawing up a secondary school master plan with Philbert Kalisa in 2013. Ed will be in Rwanda from 24th October to 17th December, while at the CASS being tutored regularly by Maurice Mitchell, who has extensive and specialist knowledge of projects of this type in developing countries.