Woodchips and sawdust cover the porch. Children and community members are found sitting around the house, finding rest in the afternoon heat. It is clear: Bertin Karangwa is a respected man, a man who brings hope to those around him.

After losing both legs during the violence of the genocide's aftermath, Bertin Karangwa was no longer able to walk or cultivate his fields. Even though he was left without legs and no way of earning income, Bertin didn't allow his disability to rob him of his future. Unlike many others in his situation, this community leader rejected the life of shame and begging that was dealt to him and made the difficult decision to learn a new trade. Having never done anything like it before, Bertin took a risk and invested the little money he had in tools and wood. He had decided. He was going to learn to carve.

As Bertin's artistic ability grew, he soon found that it was difficult to find access to markets. Living in the province of Huye, over two hours away from the capital city, and unable to make the long journey, Bertin was forced to sell his carvings for low prices to middle men who then could travel to the large craft markets.

In 2006 FH Rwanda began working with small businesses through the PPPMER program, a Rwandan Government initiative. With the help of an FH staff member, Bertin was able to receive training in financial management, product diversification, and business management.

Soon after, Bertin was able to sell his carvings for more. He was able to buy a new home. He was able to move closer to the city. He was able to complete his trainings with FH and become an independent business owner, successful in his new trade.

Picking up the small statue of Mary and her child, Bertin's quiet strength shone through his smile, "It took me four years to learn to carve like this," he said reflectively, his fingers following the smooth curves of the statue. "And I carved these, too." Bertin noted, motioning to a set of prosthetic legs lying in the corner. The sharp metal weapons that took his legs and at one time his liberty are now the instruments that have allowed him to overcome. Today, his new trade has given him the ability to walk again.

WHERE

+ Democratic Republic
-- of Congo
+ Ethiopia
+ Kenya
+ Rwanda
+ Uganda

+ FH HISTORY:

FH entered Rwanda in 1995, responding to the humanitarian crisis caused by the genocide. FH Rwanda began its operations by offering relief and social services to the millions of Rwandans who were repatriating, many of whom were children who had been separated from their families, or left orphaned. In 1999 FH Rwanda transitioned from a relief organization to one focused on sustainable community development. Beginning with child development programming, FH Rwanda now works in a variety of sectors.

+ RWANDA'S HISTORY:

Like its neighbor Burundi, Rwanda was settled by Batwa, Bahutu, and Batutsi peoples and governed by a centralized kingdom of ruling Batutsi. Colonized by Germany in 1899, and then designated a Belgian protectorate in 1919, Rwanda's colonizers ruled through the existing Tutsi kings and hierarchy; this decision augmenting disparity between groups. The issuance of ethnic identity cards in 1935 solidified the divide between Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa and eliminated movement between groups.

In 1959 Belgian authorities supported the ethnically charged massacre of Tutsis, reflecting a shift in their approval of Hutu governance, and sending nearly two million Tutsis fleeing to Uganda; this group became the Rwandan Diaspora. Independence arrived in 1962, with institutionalized discrimination a component of the new regime. Ethnic violence continued to be supported by the Hutu dominated government from 1965-1994.

In December 1990, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), a military group formed from the Diaspora, attacked Kigali in efforts to end the military dictatorship and allow for refugee repatriation. Ethnic tensions persisted despite peace talks and the signing of the Arusha Peace Accord in 1993. On April 6, 1994 President Major General Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot down.

The Rwandan genocide began immediately following the plane crash. During a period of one hundred days, nearly one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically killed. The mass slaughter ended July 4, 1994 because of RPF intervention led by current president, President Paul Kagame. The genocide left hundreds of thousands of children orphaned. This number is expected to double by 2010 because of the impact of HIV/AIDS. Rwanda currently has more child-headed households than any other African nation.

Democratically elected into office in 2003, President Paul Kagame continues to lead the Rwandan people toward reconciliation and recovery.

FACTS:

In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the most deadly genocides in history. 10% of the population (nearly one million people) was massacred over the span of 100 days. suscipit hendrerit ipsum.
Ut bibendum dapibus tellus.

+ Women comprise 70% of the adult population.

+ Two-thirds of Rwandans live below the poverty line.

+ More children are heads of their households in Rwanda than in any other African country.

+ Seven out of ten female genocide survivors were living with HIV/AIDS in 2004.

+ Facts From: IRIN, CIA, The World Factbook, UNHCR, UNICEF, and the Official Website of the Republic of Rwanda

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