RITE & REASON:Help from Ireland has transformed the quality of life for thousands of people in Rwanda, writes JERED KALIMBA
IT’S a great pleasure for me, a Rwandan bishop, to visit Dublin this weekend, to attend the ordination of Ken Rue as deacon, along with three others, in Christ Church Cathedral.
I will be accompanied by one of my clergy, the Rev John Wesley Kabango, who undertook development studies in Kimmage Manor some years ago.
At that time John became friendly with members of Whitechurch parish in Rathfarnham, Dublin.
Subsequently, at his own initiative, Ken, a Whitechurch parishioner, travelled out to my diocese of Shyogwe and laid the initial foundations for what has now become a significant mission/developmental partnership between some Church of Ireland parishes and Shyogwe diocese.
I have appointed Ken as my commissary (ambassador) in Ireland and he is a canon of Shyogwe diocese. My visit here will also afford me the very important opportunity to say a warm “thank you” to various bodies and people. Several developmental projects in my diocese would not have been possible without the core material and spiritual stimulation given by Killiney, Ballybrack (St Matthias) and Whitechurch parishes.
There has been very generous funding support given by Irish Aid, by the YMCA, by the Church of Ireland’s Bishops’ Appeal and by RTÉ’s One World fund.
This support – for example, the provision and official opening of a new drinking water system in Gitaram – has transformed the health, social and working routines and quality of life for thousands of people. Other initiatives include the upgrading of a health facility, establishing a commercial fruit production unit and improving agricultural techniques, and providing adult literacy materials.
The main mission of my diocese of Shyogwe is “to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all people and to contribute to the socio-economic, cultural, intellectual and medical development of the Rwandan people, emphasizing the defence of human rights”.
To carry out this mission, we are implementing our five-year strategic plan which sets out goals for evangelization, education, health, rural development, peace and reconciliation as well as infrastructure and equipment.
Our vision is “a holy soul in a healthy body”. Many Christians in Ireland may be downhearted by the loss of faith which seems to be evident in the Western world. I would like to encourage them with the news that the numbers of Christians is growing in my country as it is throughout much of the developing world.
Following the awful 1994 genocide in our country, there has been a major onus on our churches to do everything possible to enhance and promote the cause of national reconciliation and restoration.
Major future challenges remain for Rwanda. Our country is physically very small, being only the size of Munster, yet it is the most densely populated country in Africa with a population of over nine million.
Many outstanding developmental projects still need to be tackled and these would greatly enhance the lives of young and old alike.
Of particular need is the provision of more community healthcare, together with HIV/Aids, gender and hygiene awareness information. Enterprise and employment and youth-at-risk vocational training projects are also critical.
The benefits arising from successful development initiatives such as these would be immense.
It has been very encouraging to see what harvest growth is now taking place through this partnership, when compared with the first tiny seed planted when one of my clergy once came to your own land to learn the skills required in developmental studies. This partnership and fellowship have given a great boost to our mutual belief and hope that the future can be a better place.
The Right Rev Jered Kalimba is Bishop of Shyogwe in the Anglican Church of Rwanda.