I've just returned from Rwanda where I was fortunate enough to be a part of a small group of people who visited projects throughout Rwanda which have been financed by a local Charity - The Goboka Rwanda Trust    https://sites.google.com/site/gobokarwandatrust/home

Whilst in Rwanda, the legacy of the Genocide which took place in 1994 and which wiped out 1 in 8 people, was ever present - a million people were killed by their country folk, neighbours and friends.

What were you doing in 1994?  I was working towards a great future - I was in a new relationship, I had moved to a new City and had a new job.  It's safe to say that I was building my future and looking forward to all that life had to offer.  In Rwanda things were very different.  In April of that year and for 100 days Genocide gripped the nation.  Friends killed their friends, neighbours killed their neighbours.  One million people were killed in 100 days in an attempt to wipe out a whole race of people.  How did this happen?

The genocide was fuelled by 'difference'.  Rwanda was colonised by the Belgiums and they introduced the notion of difference.  Firstly identifying people into two tribes, initially by how many cows they had and later by what people looked like, how tall they were or what shape of nose they had or even the shape of their hands.  People were given identity cards with their tribe clearly marked on them.  The belgiums then gave power first to the Tutsi's and then subsequently to the Hutus, when the Tutsi's started to ask for more independence.

This notion of difference was the breeding ground for the eventual Genocide on 1994.

Now, years later the country is working hard to reconcile and heal. I was so fortunate to meet leaders in the community who are keeping the process of reconciliation and healing alive. 

An organisation called Peace, Healing and Reconcilation Project (PHARP) is run in Rwanda by two amazing people - Julienne Kayijuka and Anastase Rugirangora.  I'm struck by the way in which their skilled communication enables such reconcilation to take place as a young woman who forgives a man who decapitated her father and then dumped his body in to the river so that the water supply would become contaminated - just one of the many stories we heard whilst on our visit.

Their healing process is one that we Coaches would recognise.  Their skills are the skills of well trained Coaches.  Among many other skills, they understand the importance of time, listening and really hearing and working with people towards readiness for change and in Rwanda this means readiness for forgiveness.

The process of skilled communication (coaching) has been tested fully in Rwanda and the healing that has and will continue to take place is testimony to fundamental coaching processes including:

• Understanding 'readiness' for change means getting the timing just right
• Enabling people to express themselves and truly 'hearing' them
• Enabling people to find their own sense of self and therefore their humanity

Ghandi said 'be the change you want to see in the world'. My next blog on this subject will be a story about a man who turned from being a killer to a healer.

See you soon.

Louise x

Louise@simplychanging.co.uk