Day 3: Many Meetings
The morning started out leisurely for some, with a later start and relaxed breakfast. Others preferred the brisk wakeup of a morning jog to disperse the cobwebs. For both groups, a group meeting was the unifying moment, a time when difference of morning preferences was cast aside for the greater good, in addition to donning formal clothes. Eddy (our guide in-country, and a man that seems to know just about everyone) came a little later than the previously arranged time, a phenomenon not unlike ‘Hawaiian time’, in fact, we were to learn later that this is one of the traits of ‘Mugunzu’ – the local version of ‘gringo’.
Eddy dressed in a relaxed yet work-ready format, with his veritable Joseph’s Technicolor Coat of a button down, and leather shoes which were worn below distressed jeans. In addition to looking like walking out of Coach’s spring lineup, he gave us a deep understanding of his background, something to which none of us could relate without stretching the truth quite a bit. His story is more fitting of the ‘American Dream’ then what many of us have encountered in our lifetimes. He then spoke about his work, and the organization that he runs in addition to his government work on the Reconciliation Council (something that is quite complex in its simplicity). He talked about his own journey to forgiveness and understanding, something that is simply amazing given that he was orphaned as a result of the genocide. He also gave a sense of hope as he related that many people share his viewpoint, and many are working to make it the prevailing point of view in Rwanda.
After Eddy finished telling us his life story, of which this is only a small fraction, the former senator arrived. The former senator wore a simple white shirt and slacks, with gold-rimmed glasses and a crowd-catching smile. He also briefed us on his life, telling us that to tell it all would take too long. His story is similar to Eddy’s in that he came from nothing to now being a highly-respected and contributing member of the community. He told us more about the Gacaca that were set up, and how these helped Rwanda and its people move forward. He spoke about how after the genocide (what Rwandans refer to as ‘the war’) the government focused on building a national identity, casting aside the designations of ‘Hutu’ or ‘Tutsi’, in favor of ‘Rwandan’. He spoke about the active roles of women in government, and endorsed the need for more women in positions of power. After the senator driving off in a ubiquitous Toyota, we had some downtime.
The final official function of the day was at the Rwandan Social Security Board, were we met with the Deputy Director General, and an aide. A briefing was given of the layout of the healthcare system present in the country, with three tiers being established for payment options, all of them based on income. One solution to poverty stuck out to many of us, and it was one involving livestock. A family in poverty would receive one cow, with the provisions being that some of the milk the cow made would be saved for the family, and the rest sold in addition to the manure being sold as well. As the cow matured, and if it had a calf (this part was not specified) the calf would be given to another family in the village who was in the same position as the original recipient of the cow was. But the main thing about this that could be a lesson learned by many, not just in America, but in the whole world is that this is not a handout, this is merely a step to help them on their own way of self-sufficiency and leave of poverty.
Dinner was smoothies and pizza.
--Miguel