Rwanda
Rwanda is
a landlocked country of 1,000 hills and over 1,000 smiles. It
is surrounded by Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda
and Burundi
It is a poor rural country situated in the Great Lakes region
of Central Africa with about 90% of the population engaged in
agriculture, mainly subsistence. It is one of the few countries
with a single common language and culture. Rwanda is made up of
three tribes, Hutus, Tutsis and 1% Twa, but today they wish to
be considered one and be called Rwandan. The country has few natural
resources. Population today is close to 9 million.
Solace
Ministries
Solace Ministries
was born out of the obedience of Jean Gakwandi (John) receiving
a call from God to comfort the widows and orphans who survived
the 1994 genocide as he was reading Gods word, Isaiah 40:1:
Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. This was
later confirmed in 2 Corinthians 1:3: We are comforted so
that we can comfort others. Thus the call was shared with
other dedicated Rwandan Christians who were also survivors and
obediently answered Gods call. The cry for help they heard
encompassed not only material needs but emotional, spiritual,
material and psychological needs.
Today Solace Ministries has expanded their ministry with the help
of co-workers from Australia, Germany, Netherlands, UK and USA
to assist the child head households and the ever present HIV-AIDS
pandemic.
During the 100 days of genocide in Rwanda over one million people
were slaughtered in 100 days, and approximately 250,000 to 500,000
girls and women (especially Tutsi) were brutally raped and/or
suffered from other forms of sexual violence. The survivors are
still living with the repercussions. Traumatised and stigmatised
in their environment, and often experiencing weakened health,
they lead an existence without much hope. About 70% of the survivors
are infected with HIV. It is, however, not too late to bring hope
in the lives of these courageous women and girls.


Solace Ministries
in Rwanda are helping the orphans, widows, families and the many
needy of Rwanda to face the challenges of the past blood shed,
and those of the future, like the AIDS epidemic. With God's help
we are partnering with the people of Rwanda through raising funds,
awareness, and seeking Gods mercy through prayer.
Solace Ministries Rwanda is a nationally recognised Non-Government
Organisation (NGO). It is a Christian organisation that seeks
to meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of those afflicted
by the genocide of 1994.