Project 2018-001

Well and a hand pump in Rweru Village, Rwanda

Rweru Village is a rural village that is called a “Reconciliation Village”. “Reconciliation Villages” arose from the aftermath of the devastation of the country due to the horrific mass murder of the Tutsi tribe during the Rwanda Genocide in 1994 by the Hutu tribe. In these villages, offender families and victim families live side by side and in peace. All have gone through a therapeutic healing program where repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation has occurred through applying Biblical principles. The process can be long and difficult, but the hard work has paid off. Still these are very impoverished villages and the work continues to help the people become more self-sufficient through education, various forms of farming and vocational training, parenting skills, and discipleship.

There is no well in this village. The current water source is a small lake approximately one mile from the village. Water-related illness is common such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis – a disease caused by parasitic worms), cholera, and amoeba adversely affecting children and adults. Occasionally adults have drowned in the lake while fetching water, when the lake is high during the rainy season. Five people lost their lives in 2017.

Final Report November 13, 2019

The well project is completed and the people are enjoying clean water. No longer will the people of Rweru have to drink contaminated lake water where many suffered with sickness and death. Also, some would drown when having to fetch water in the swampy lake. The launching of the well included remarks about how it is now their role to protect and appropriately use the cherished well.  A Water Committee has been formed (a common practice that we encourage and embrace when funding well projects).  The Members from the water committee are in charge of monitoring the well and have placed a protective box over the top of the tap to control the hours people can come to collect water. Prayers and thanks were lifted in excitement for the gift of clean water! 

 Testimonies of the villagers (in their own words):

Francine Nyirabahire – she is a mother of two children and she has a family of three members. I deeply appreciate this assistance and that indeed God is real! Water from the lake has been a disaster, its smell and colour, worms and other different diseases we have been suffering because of that swampy lake water, we all have been victims. May God bless you.

Josephine Mukabursa – she has a family of six. What an answer we got to prayer! The well is near and how clean water is!! I lost my child in 1998 she drown in the lake and many more died too!!!! how I wish we had this solution before! Now it won’t happen again we thank to God. God bless you all!

Josephine Uwamariya – she has a family of five. This is one of the greatest surprises I will ever consider in my life that unexpectedly, like a dream, we were given water. We have been living a life ready to die because of the dirty water they were using. I believe peace is now coming our way and we will now have a breathing space from the hospital sick beds. We are honored. Thank you for providing this well. You are truly a servant of God and be blessed.

David Karangwa – This well is a miracle! We have lost a lot of people especially children and old people. I believe this well is every ones answer in this village and the entire society. We thank you! We must protect this gift it’s really helpful. Thank you. God bless you.