|
|
The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
|
a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
|
|
|
|
|
August 2006 |
|||
|
|
||||
Rwandan Coffee ClubLearning about different cultures has many benefits for everyone. John Middleton tells about a link his church has forged with refugees from the Rwandan genocide. Hobart has a small community of Rwandan Tutsi genocide survivor refugees. Presently thirteen in number and comprising two families, the Rwandans have a loose relationship with St Mark’s Anglican Church at Cygnet. This had led to the formation of a Rwandan Refugee Support Group, which is drawn from the community at large as well as St Mark’s. The Support Group recently held the third annual commemoration of the genocide. The first such commemoration in Tasmania attracted about 50 people. This year more than 300 people attended the ceremony at the Wesley Church Hall in Hobart, including Rwandan Tutsi genocide survivors from Brisbane and Sydney, and an Australian UNHCR medic from Adelaide, who was stationed in Rwanda following the genocide. Life for the survivors in Hobart cannot be isolated from the lives of those in Rwanda who live in a country where the genocide ideology is still alive. Reports in the Rwandan press regularly tell the story. Recently an elderly survivor widow had her cow maliciously killed, removing not only her primary source of sustenance but also her hope, keeping her oppressed and threatened. Only months ago a furore erupted when a Government minister heading a committee dealing with justice issues for survivors stated publicly that ‘it was a pity they didn’t do the job properly’ (in other words: ‘and kill the lot’.) This minister lost her job over the matter; it speaks volumes about the mindset which still exists twelve years after the genocide. There have been several murders of survivors since 1994 to prevent them from witnessing against perpetrators in court proceedings, and bashings are commonplace. 65% of survivor widows are infected with HIV due to rape during the genocide. These victims usually receive no support from government for treatment. 100,000 households of genocide orphans are headed by children who were aged between 7 - 12 years old in 1994. They have cared for their siblings for the past twelve years and none of the children has been educated. They managed to survive the aftermath – education was a luxury beyond their reach. The Hobart survivors have begun what they call the ‘Rwandan Coffee Club’They sell coffee and tea (and other items in due course) through their web site. The objective is to help fund projects in Rwanda to improve the lot of the survivors there. Church groups and individuals are invited to join the Club, not by subscription, but by being ambassadors for Rwandan survivors by telling the story. The website has information about the catastrophe and encourages people to buy tea and coffee via the site. Highest priorities for funding are:
Please click here to find out how people can reach out to their communities, help genocide survivors in Tasmania have fuller lives, and help their less fortunate relatives and fellows in Rwanda.
The Rev. John Middleton is the Co-ordinator of the Rwandan Refugee Support Group. Please contact him for further information by phone 03 6295 1344 or email . |
|
|||
