The 4th (Africa) Consultation of the Quaker Prevention Network (QPN) held in Rwanda during August 2003

The full name of the QPN is the Quaker Network for the Prevention of Violent Conflict and is a group of Friends from around the world who are concerned with finding ways to prevent wars and other violent conflicts. The 4th Consultative Meeting was held on the shores of the spectacularly beautiful Lake Kivu. This meeting was specifically requested by African Friends to discuss African issues. Participation was by invitation, and included people from all over Africa and some from North America.

We heard from numerous participants about a wide range of peace work that is happening in Africa. We also learned of courage when some of those present shared their painful personal experiences, and we all participated in worship sharing groups where these and other issues were raised. Finally we came up with a plan of action and volunteers to take the work of QPN (Africa) forward.

Our time in the community was gentle, fulfilling and productive and we shared many deep experiences together. It's hard to imagine being in a country where a million people (out of a population of seven or eight million) were murdered in the most brutal fashion, mainly by fellow citizens - indeed, often by fellow villagers. It was difficult for me to relate to such staggering atrocities taking place (in 1994) whilst we, in South Africa, were celebrating our freedom. How do such things happen in a society that, to all intents and purposes, is as 'civilized' as any other?

Toward the end of our stay, some of us went to Kibuye, a village about a half-hour walk over a hill from our accommodation. The town looked very small, but as we walked alongside a small sports stadium, a colleague mentioned, almost in passing, that 15 000 people lay buried in a mass grave behind it - and that another 10 000 lie buried behind the Catholic church on the hill.

We were warmly welcomed at our destination with flattering introductions and much song. After the service I was taking pictures of boys in the village who were enchanted to see their images on the small screen at the back of my camera. Then I noticed a tiny girl squeezing through the legs of the crowd to see what all the fuss was about. As soon as she understood that it was the camera, she reached up without a word, took my arm, and pulled it down to a level where she could see the image.
Here, in the middle of this devastated society was a child who was completely fearless - not concerned by either her fellow townspeople or this stranger (me) - and absolutely determined to satisfy her curiosity.

The thing that occurred to me was that it takes a whole lot of love and community to produce a child that has such high levels of self-confidence, and I found myself feeling a whole lot better about Rwanda and its future.

Colin Glen
13 September 2003
(Edited down from 2000 words.)