Donath Nyarmwava and Thomas Ndizeyeand perform an HIV/AIDS awareness skit at the Du Club Rengera Ubuzima, an HIV/AIDS education club for teens sponsored by Friends Peace House. Rwanda
About RwandaRwanda is still recovering from a devastating genocide. In the midst of trying to rebuild the society, HIV/AIDS has risen as yet another challenge. Some 250,000 people are living with the disease.
MCC Supports:Friends Peace HouseHIV/AIDS has begun to create a new source of conflict in a country still trying to reconcile its people following a horrific genocide. Spouses quarrel over who infected the other. Churches and communities shun people with HIV/AIDS and they are often barred from rightful employment. Rape during the genocide and later instability have contributed to the spread of HIV. The chief cause of the continuing spread of the virus remains the lack of knowledge about how the disease is spread. Friends Peace House is a Christian organization whose primary mission is to educate for peace and reconciliation. Addressing the AIDS crisis has become an essential part of their efforts. AIDS causes conflict and poverty, estranges people from each other and destabilizes a fragile peace. The program undertakes activities including training, awareness raising, and the creation of youth and women's clubs to address HIV/AIDS. $65 Cdn./$57 U.S. allows one women's group to organize a public debate on HIV/AIDS. $199 Cdn./$175 U.S. provides an annual grant to one youth club to undertake its own activities, which include sports events. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects. |
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