April 16, 2008

From April 18th to 24th, I will be traveling with a group of seven Chicago social entrepreneurs in Rwanda, Africa. We will be working to help the country rebound and heal fourteen years after suffering one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in recent history. I invite you to join me on my journey to see first hand the challenges facing Rwanda's future.

The group I'm traveling with was assembled by Global Relief & Development Partners (GRDP), a non-profit consulting agency that helps international humanitarian organizations and entrepreneurs build capacity and start new business. Participants in GRDP's Social Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) are leaders in their field who make a commitment to bring their knowledge and networks to developing countries to assess their needs and provide mentorship and high impact solutions.

During my six days in Africa, I will be meeting with senior government officials, religious leaders, regional and national directors of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), senior staff of USAID, and emerging Rwandan business entrepreneurs. Each member of the the SEP will select local leaders to engage in mentoring relationships, and I hope to learn as much from our Rwandan partners and my fellow social entrepreneurs as they hope to learn from me.

As my goal, I will be seeking partnership opportunities to connect The Chicago School community and its intellectual and human resource capital, service and scholarship capacity, and academic programs to support Rwanda's relief and development initiatives.

Learn more about GRDP at http://www.grdpartners.org/.

April 17, 2008

On April 6th, 1994, a plane carrying the President of Rwanda, a member of the Hutu ethnic group, was shot down as it approached the Kigali airport. This act set in motion a chain of events that precipitated one of the most horrific genocides in world history. The reasons why something like this could happen are incredibly complicated and go well beyond the scope of this blog. I hope through my travels and conversations in Rwanda to better understand these myself. In the meantime, I invite you to learn more about these events and the history of Rwanda through what appears to be a relatively comprehensive and reliable article at Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda).

One thing about Rwanda is clear. The slaughter of between 800,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsi and Moderate Hutus over a 100-day period decimated this already fragile country of approximately nine million people. According to a 2007 United Nations' report, Rwanda ranked 161 out of 177 countries in terms of Human Development. Considering factors such as life expectancy, literacy, education, and standards of living, everything in Rwanda is upside down. Thirty percent of people 15 years and older cannot read and write. There exists a generalized HIV/AIDS epidemic that claims countless lives on a daily basis. Out of every 1,000 live births, 203 children do not live to see their 5th birthday.

I could go on and on. I invite you to learn more, so I've put together a number of facts about Rwanda. You can access them here.

Please feel free to begin posting your thoughts, reactions, questions, and suggestions of things for me to inquire about during my journey. My itinerary is quite full, and I'll be seven hours ahead of CST. However, I will try my best to stay in touch, respond to postings, and give updates of my activities on a daily basis. I look forward to hearing from you.

April 19, 2008

I did not arrange my flights plans to Rwanda. However, the irony that both layovers were in countries that significantly influenced the genocide did not escape me. While walking between flights, I found myself pre-occupied with what I've been learning about Rwanda's history with Germany and Belgium.

In between thoughts, I began noticing how many people around me were carrying passports, as it's been a while since I've needed anything more than a driver's license to travel.

I started eagerly looking around at different passport covers, curiously wondering from and to where everyone was traveling. Traveling with a passport is exciting! It means going somewhere well beyond one's own backyard. I tried to connect the languages people were speaking, their overall appearance, and any other clues I could detect to the color and markings of their travel documents. Where were they from? Where were they going? And then something clicked for me: Identity cards have very different meanings depending on the context of their use and motive for their issuance.

Here's a little history to put this in a Rwandan context....

In 1884, Germany signed treaties with chiefs of the region, claiming the land of Tanganyika, Rwanda, and Burundi as their own. While the Germans did not make radical changes to the social structure, they did bring a fixed perspective to the local ethnic groups. Prior to colonization, it appears that the Hutus and Tutsi had no animosity between each other, considered themselves equals, shared space, language, and customs, intermarried, worked alongside and socialized with each other, and served in the same army in the service of the same king (who was a Tutsi). Colonization reduced social mobility and laid some rather destructive seeds in terms of how these ethnic groups began to interrelate.

After Germany was defeated in WWI, Belgium gained governing rights to Ruanda-Urundi and the Congo. Many believe that the ethnic tensions that grew over the next several decades were purposefully fueled in a "divide and conquer" approach to governing and social control. During this time, ethnic groups were taught how to feel about each other.

Tutsis were positioned as the elite and hailed as biblical descendants. The Hutus were described as inferior and subservient. In the early 1930s, ethnic identity cards were required that classified residents as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa. Some suspect that this was designed to help people identify who they were supposed to dislike, as it really is quite difficult to otherwise tell them apart. Additionally, as with most patrilineal African countries, ethnic identify is passed from the father. So, a child born to a mother with a long Tutsi heritage would be considered Hutu if this is how the father identified.

With imposed discrimination, tensions began mounting. The Tutsi-led monarchy began actively seeking independence in the 1950s. Nervous and seeking a delay, the Belgians suddenly replaced the minority Tutsi ruling class with the Hutus. As you can imagine, the majority group, who had been told for decades that they were inferior and treated accordingly, were angry when they suddenly gained power.

The ethnic messaging shifted. Tutsis were now the historical oppressive enemies to be ridiculed and shunned. While many other variables factored into the events that precipitated the genocide forty short years later, the point I'm trying to make here is much more simple. The hatred that emerged between these two ethnic groups was imposed and perhaps even manipulated by outsiders to unthinkably horrific results. And it all happened within two generations.

Passports as identity cards. For some, they are keys that allow access to the world and open doors to exciting cross-cultural exchange. In other contexts and with other motives, the classification of people can be tools that foster discrimination, oppression, and hatred.

Please feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, and perspectives....

April 20, 2008

This morning, I visited one of the several official sites that memorialize the horror that decended on Rwanda 14 years ago.

On April 6, 1994, the jet carrying the president of Rwanda, Juvenal Habyarimana (a Hutu) and the newly elected president of Burundi (also a Hutu) was shot down over the captial city of Kigali. The evidence suggests that he was actually killed by fellow extremist Hutus in his own party as justification to launch a Tutsi genocide - the plot for which began as many as four years prior.

France has been implicated as supporting the radical Interahamwe Hutu death squads by supplying them with both the weapons and training for mass Tutsi killings. Death lists were already ready. Practice slaughters had been conducted to test the world's response as well their newly aqcuired execution strategies. High government officials had openly discussed their desire for an apocolyptic "final solution" for the Tutsis. Propoganda media peaked, justifying and sanctioning the need to elimiate this ethnic group en mass. A code phrase to begin the killing was widely distributed beforehand, and those words were uttered over the radio immediately following the presidential plane crash. That was all that was needed, and the killing began.

Within 100 days, 1,000,000+ men, women, and children were brutally killed. With the majority of the killings done in the early phase, the efficiency of the Rwandan death squads surpassed that of the highly organized Nazi death camps. And those who plotted the genocide predicted accurately that the international community would not respond.

To put this into context: Imagine every Cubs' home game between the months of June and July, with Wrigley Field filled to capacity. Imagine everyone attending each of those 25 games killed in the most sickening ways imaginable. Imagine, in response, the UN removing resources. Imagine world leaders debating whether or not this technically met the definition of genocide, therefore obligating a response. Imagine world leaders turning their back and allowing it to continue. This is what happened in Rwanda.

The picture above is a short and highly incomplete list of names of genocide victims in the region of the memorial site I visited. At that site alone, over 250,000 people are buried in common toombs, with caskets stacked on top of each other that contain the incomplete and mixed remains of multiple victims.

The memorial site offers lovely gardens, peaceful meditation space, candid information, and chilling artifacts to help those who visit remember, grieve, and learn. It's part of a large scale mandate from the government and the church for reconcilliation and peace across the country.

In 1994, Rwanda died. Could a country that experienced this tsunami of evil ever recover? Before I share my observations about the current state and possible future of this tiny little country that the world once forsaked, I encourage you to reflect and share your thoughts about this very dark time in our world's history....

April 20, 2008

The darkness that fell upon Rwanda did not lift immediately after the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), led by the current President Paul Kagame, took control of the capital on July 1, 1994 and put an end to the genocide.

The mass exodus of the population settled in camps in neighboring countries. When the humanitarian organizations finally arrived, the "refugee crisis" received primary attention. So, the world never really heard about the genocide let alone what led up to it. To add insult to injury, large amounts of humanitarian aid was delivered to the displaced perpetrators of the genocide, who were using the camps and the relief they received to re-group and continue their killing efforts. Disease and starvation set in. By 2001, there were 613,000 orphans. It just kept getting worse.

But, out of these ashes, something magical started to happen. As the situation stabilized and Rwandans began returning home, a strong message of hope and reconciliation began to emerge. This continues to grow at an exponential rate today. Rwanda has the opportunity to become an incredibly special place.

What I'd like to start doing now is shifting attention away from Rwanda's horrific past and begin focusing on its future. Hope for and reconciliation within Rwanda rest in the people. I have had the opportunity to start meeting many of Rwanda's current and emerging leaders, and I am coming to believe it's possible.

The needs of Rwanda are endless, yet everyone with whom I have met conveyed, in the typical Rwandan soft and understated speech, a clear sense of hope and a desire for peace and reconciliation. The other thing they communicate is an unashamed acknowledgement of their need for help and an eager but humble welcoming to receive outside assistance.

They are not asking for money. They are asking for mentorship, knowledge transfer, skill development, and respect.

Let's meet the future of Rwanda....

April 20, 2008

Janet (pictured left) and her sister Joy run a really amazing wholesale basket weaving company! Headquartered out of their mother's former house, they employ over 3,000 women, providing them with training, materials, and a wide range of financial, social, and emotional support.

While visiting their operation this morning, they told us that they specifically recruit HIV/AIDS infected women, single women heads of households, and women in abusive relationships. In their efforts to contribute to the country's reconciliation efforts, they purposefully employ both Hutu and Tutsi women genocide survivors who continue to bridge the ethnic divide on a daily bases as they weave, sing, laugh, eat, and co-exist together.

Janet and Joy go to remote villages where they invite women to come and stay for several weeks at a time in the dormitory they built in their house. Once they have been trained, the women go back to their villages with the promise to each train at least another weaver. Though these women have developed some rather innovative quality assurance and tracking processes, the Social Entrepreneurship team identified some basic accounting practices that could jeopardize the future of the company.


Janet and Joys' biggest success and opportunity: They just landed a contract to export their baskets to Macy's in New York. If they can increase their scale to 8,000 workers, their baskets could be made available throughout the United States.

Their biggest risk: Expanding their operation without adjusting their financials could quickly run them out of business.

The SEP mentor who will help their realize their vision: Randy Rollinson, president of LBL Strategies, Ltd. (http://www.lblstrategies.com/), a Chicago-based education, training and consulting company that specializes in supporting progressive organizations in defining and executing their strategic direction and operational plans.

April 20, 2008

Francis is a senior governmental official (Director General, Investment and Export Promotion Agency) who basically oversees business development for the country (i.e., he fast tracks investment opportunities for the county). On behalf of the government, his role is to find ways to create and attract new domestic and foreign businesses and foster relationships between the public and private sectors.

As we were literally sitting down with him for Sunday lunch, Francis' first question was pointed and directed to me: "Can you explain to me fear in business decision-making?"

I asked for some additional clarification, and he went on to explain that he is frustrated that there are a high number of small (1-2 person) businesses that have growth potential with owners who do not want to expand. He attributed their hesitation to fear.

We talked about some basic psychological dimensions of why one might be hesitant to make changes to her or his business, and this was put against a cultural backdrop laden with real remnants of intense generalized fear. I also told him that some of our bright and talented I/O and business psychology students might have some specialized insights, and I promised that I would try to send him some additional information. (If anyone has any immediate insights, please post a comment, as I will likely see him again before I leave. Otherwise, expect me to solicit information from you when I get back!)

In our discussion, Francis emphasized the Government of Rwanda's (GOR's) strong interest in developing the private entrepreneurial sector of Rwanda for economic development toward a primary goal of establishing sustainable peace and meaningful reconciliation.

Running a little with this, we talked about the collective ways we, as a group, are exploring mentorship opportunities to develop emerging Rwandan entrepreneurs and the private sector. He was excited to hear about the compatibility between our interests and the GOR and how we could help develop the people for whom he seeks business opportunities.

As lunch was coming to an end, however, we encountered a somewhat unusual turn of events. Francis asked for one of us to mentor HIM, and we are going to take him up on this very flattering offer to help develop this very influential member of the GOR through combined resources of the SEP team under the leadership of Mike Poulos, Senior Partner of DLA Piper law firm.

April 20, 2008

Is it wrong to keep a Director General and a Bishop waiting on the same day?

After Sunday lunch, Francis asked if the team would like to join him for coffee at Bourbon Coffee, a very upscale (and therefore very unique) business launched by a highly entrepreneurial businessman who I will highlight in an upcoming blog. The Director General left in his car, and as we were about to leave, the hotel at which we were staying apologetically told us that we needed to leave within the hour. Apparently, a high number of UN officials descended on the building and pulled rank on our little group. I sarcastically quipped, "The UN. They're not here when you need them and here when you don't."

The quick packing up of rooms made us late for the waiting governmental official which, in turn, made us late for our dinner with John Rucyahana, the Bishop of Rwanda.

The Bishop was joined by his wife Harriett, daughter Joy (who just graduated law school and wants to start a group practice in Rwanda), and about 20 business leaders across all sectors. Having read his book, The Bishop of Rwanda: Finding Forgiveness Amidst a Pile of Bones, on the flight over, I was eager to hear him speak.

In his book, Bishop John, as he is affectionately known, presents a comprehensive analysis of Rwanda's history and a candid (and at times graphic) description of the genocide itself. Consistent with the message of the government, the Bishop preaches that reconciliation is the only path that Rwandans can take. As an interesting side note, I found incredible similarities between the text in the Bishop's book and the written materials at the government's genocide memorial site. It is clear that the government and the church are very much aligned in their interpretation of the genocide and the mandate for national reconciliation.

An eloquent and metaphorical speaker, Bishop Rucyahana has described Rwanda as a country "cleansed in blood," that the genocide is a "blessing from God" that has brought the ethnic groups together, and that he preaches the need for forgiveness from a "pile of bones." Having lost his niece in a gruesome genocidal slaying, Bishop John knows anger and the desire for revenge. He also preaches about the destructive nature of these feelings, on individual, group, and country levels.

In his book, he described how he came to his own reconciliation with God around the genocide. "Where was God when a million innocent people were being butchered? Where was God when priests and pastors helped massacre the people in their churches? I will tell you where God was. He was alongside the victims lying on the cold stone floor of the cathedrals. He was comforting a dying child, he was crying at the altar. But he was also saving lives. Many were saved by miracles. God does not flee when evil takes over a nation. He speaks to those who are still listening, he eases the pain of the suffering, and he saves those who can be saved."

In his opening and closing remarks and prayers, the Bishop talked about how the genocide decimated everything in Rwanda except one thing. Hope. He encouraged business leaders to be transparent with themselves and others about the reality of their need for help, yet he told them in so doing that they should never let themselves ever be colonized again. "Never sacrifice your vision," he emphasized.

After dinner, Bishop John invited us to join him at breakfast the following morning. He continued his message to us from the night before, offering his blessings, encouragement, friendship, and love. His parting requests were to take Rwanda's hope back to the United States and, in return, bring back more friends who can build models of business and human service that can help realize the dream they have for their country and its next generations.

April 21, 2008

Charles Karake, Director of Human Resources & Institutional Capacity Development Agency (pictured right), attended the dinner on Sunday night with Bishop John.

A very outspoken and animated man, he reminded the otherwise enthusiastic audience of the incredibly high unemployment rates despite the increased need for labor. "There are 50 people on the back of everyone in this room." He went on to explain that he was excited when his two nephews became employed so that he could give them each 25. "But, even though I give them each 25, there are 50 more waiting to be carried on my back."

After the dinner, he asked if we could meet him at his office first thing Monday morning.

Charles, who reports directly to President Kagame, is charged with developing the plan for brining much needed vocational training to the country. He estimated that the immediate need would support 400 training centers. "If you see the tile on this floor, there are not enough people in Rwanda who know how to do that for us. We have to bring in the workers from Uganda or Kenya."

Charles needs to complete his report by August, and it was clear that he was feeling under pressure and lacking a comprehensive plan.

The team engaged with him for two hours brainstorming ideas, including ways the government could incent the private education sector to move into the market, the possibility of introducing a governmental requirement to pursue either college or vocational training after secondary school, incentives to direct students to necessary technical training, the need to partner with the banking industry to create student loan programs, and the need to prioritize the incredibly wide range of skill development needed in the country.

The GRDP Board Chair and CEO of closerlook, inc (http://www.closerlook.com/), Dave Ormesher, founded a non-profit organization several years that provides intensive "boot camp" vocational training for high school students who do not want or otherwise cannot attend college. Because of the success of "i.c.stars" (http://www.icstars.org/), graduates are preferred hires at many local businesses, and DePaul University promises automatic admission to anyone who successfully completes the program.

Because of their shared overlap in developing programs to address the gap between often under-skilled high school graduates and college attendees, Dave agreed to provide mentorship to Charles around the development of his vocational training plans. I plan to lend some insight into the workings of the education sector as well.

Readers with an interest or experience in developing vocational training programs are encouraged to contact me for ways to get involved in this at any level.

April 21, 2008

Coffee represents the largest commercial resource in Rwanda. Prior to 2000, Rwanda exported only commercial grade coffee, missing the much more lucrative and increasing world-wide market for specialty coffee. With technical assistance, training, and financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID: http://www.usaid.gov/), Rwanda produced about 30 tons of specialty coffee in 2002. By 2006, that number increased to 3,000 tons, with export revenue rising from zero dollars to about $8.5 million.

About 50,000 Rwandan families are currently involved in the quickly growing agricultural subspeciality of specialty coffee, and they are catching the eyes (and dollars) of mega coffee importers such as Costco, Target, and Starbucks. Among the emerging entrepreneurs leading this shift in the coffee culture is Arthur Karuletwa (pictured right), owner of Rwanda's Bourbon Coffee.

Arthur grew up in Rwanda and fled to Uganda during the genocide. He obtained a college basketball scholarship and studied in southern California. While working in the U.S. coffee industry, he met his wife Amy, a Starbucks employee. Together they returned to Rwanda, and they brought their knowledge and desire to bring a high-end coffee product and experience to Rwanda.

That he has done. With his bean-to-cup understanding of coffee production, Arthur and Amy have worked directly with the coffee farmers, brining highly innovative practices to significantly reduce the amount of time spent from picking to washing (one of the most critical steps to ensure quality taste), and the beans are now being washed in much more sophisticated washing stations. As a result, Arthur now proudly pays the farmers five times what he and other farmers would have paid a year ago.

Intentionally, they have Hutu and Tutsi farmers working together.

Arthur has also opened two very contemporary coffee shops in Rwanda, the likes of which rivals any coffee house experience in the States. The newest shop, which we visited on Monday afternoon, is divided into the five districts of Rwanda. Each boasts local arts, crafts, and other amenities to raise awareness of that area to their patrons. Informational materials help consumers to "get to know their farmer," increasing familiarity with who is providing for them as well as for whom they are providing. Coffee beans are roasted on premises, and a full restaurant and bakery round out the Bourbon experience.

Arthur has dreams of franchising and increasing the exportation of his coffee worldwide, and I think he can do it. You'll be hearing more about Arthur, as he will be my mentee.

In the meantime, I know that there are a lot of coffee drinkers out there, and I'd love for people to begin exploring and posting where you can buy Rwandan coffee in Chicago. I'm no coinsurer, but I can say that I found the coffee pretty tasty. For those with more sensitive palates, give us some reviews of what you discover!

April 21, 2008

Kije Mugisha has a very unique but, in some ways, commonplace story. Don't get me wrong, Kije is amazingly talented, bright, eager, and entrepreneurial, and the way in which she entered into a position of significant responsibility is as inspiring as it is serendipitous. We had dinner with Kije on Monday night. Let me tell you a little bit about her story, and you'll see what I mean when I say that, in some ways, her tale is not all that unique.

Kije was born and raised in the eastern region of the United States, and she attended university in Pennsylvania. Committed to her Rwanda heritage, she became heavily involved in African and Rwandan student groups in college. Upon graduations, she decided to leave the opportunities available to her in the United States and move to Rwanda - with no social support, no job, and no place to live.

When she arrived, she had aspirations to start a radio station. In April 2007, the Director General of the state media conglomerate ORINFOR was relieved of his duties, and Kije was offered this very powerful position. Currently the Director of Rwandan Television, Kije has significant control of what is broadcast over the country's airwaves.

Why is her story not so special? It has stuck me on this trip how many of the emerging Rwandan leaders and entrepreneurs are so young in their careers! Though they all are Rwandan, most were not around during the genocide. They were either already out of the country or relocated during the genocide. However, they each have committed to make Rwanda their home. A greater commitment to the rebuilding and reconciliation of a country I can't imagine.

All with wonderful opportunities available to them in other regions of the world that are far more stable, politically, economically, and socially, they have all chosen to participate in Rwanda's rebirth, and they see nothing but opportunities before them here.

What they all seem to want and need is the knowledge, experience, and access to mentorship that will facilitate a much greater impact than they are currently able to make. We have already watched them consume and utilize the information we brought to them, and they are eager for more.

Can these bright, young, and talented leaders significantly influence this emerging nation? I have no doubt. Can they do it by themselves? Who could....

April 22, 2008

The Social Entrepreneurship Program in which I am participating offered a half-day workshop on Tuesday for Rwandan leaders from the public, private, religious, and donor worlds.

In light of the eagerness for mentorship that I have previously described, we had no difficulty filling the 50 available seats. The event, covered by both Rwandan print and television media, provided attendees with skills on how to assess their organizations and build strategic plans to fulfill their missions.

Instead of going into detail about the workshop and attendees, I'd like to talk more about the venue in which it took place: Hotel Des Mille Collines (i.e., "Hotel Rwanda").

As the genocide unfolded, the Hotel Des Mille Collines became a refugee camp. Hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina provided shelter for over 1,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus, often needing to bribe Hutu militia and draw upon his Belgian contacts to politically intervene in order to keep his occupants safe.

What many may not know is that the movie Hotel Rwanda (2004) is actually quite controversial among Rwandans.

Told from his own perspective and through a Hollywood lens, Paul Rusesabagina positions himself as nothing short of a hero. While the people with whom I spoke about the movie appreciated how it raised world awareness about the genocide, many Rwandans, including President Paul Kagame, see him as anything but someone who should be put on a pedestal. Namely, they are angered that he charged those who sought refuge at the hotel, and they see him as profiteering on the genocide. They do not see the money Paul made from this movie coming back to Rwanda, and he no longer lives in the country.

As with any complicated and highly charged situation, people are likely to have very different interpretations of the same events, and motives are very difficult to discern. After a quick Google search, I was able to find some articles out there that talk about both sides of this controversy. I ask anyone interested in this particular topic to do a little research for us and let us know what you find.

Controversy aside, the experience of passing the gates of The Hotel Des Mille Collines was sobering if not chilling. As I passed through the lobby, recognizable from the movie, and through the halls of this luxury hotel (by international standards, not just Rwandan), I tried to imagine what it was really like here 14 short years ago. Packed to capacity, holding people fear for their lives, watching the struggle to exist on minimal provisions, if only these walls could talk. As much as I tried, I just could not (or would not) imagine what it was really like.

After lunch, I took this picture from a fourth floor terrace. Just below, people were enjoying the swimming pool which became the prime source of drinking water for occupants during the genocide. I was feeling quite unsettled.

I was approached by a local minister, Augustine Kakwaya of the Apostles and Prophets Church of Jesus Christ. As we talked about the lovely view that we shared, I mentioned to him that I came across a saying in my readings about how God sleeps in Rwanda. His eyes lit up, he grabbed a piece of hotel stationary, and he wrote the following: "IMANA YIRIWA AHANDI IGATAHA IRWANDA."

He explained that this means, "God (IMANA) spends days doing good things (YIRIWA) elsewhere/away (AHANDI), but he returns to sleep (IGATAHA) in Rwanda (IRWANDA). He made me practice it several times and repeat it to nearby friends and colleagues.

Far more so than me, Rwandans are still trying to understand how something so horrible could have happened to their country. The feelings of betrayal are still very much part of the landscape, yet once again, I was pointed to the hope of peace and reconciliation.

April 23, 2008

Graceful. Wise. Regal. Empowered in her station. Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, the Mayor of Kigali, blends traits commonly associated with African royalty with contemporary leadership and a vision for a progressive Rwanda.

Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira is a veterinarian by training. She received her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1992) from Makerere University in Uganda and her Master of Veterinary Science degree in Animal Production and Economics (1996) from James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia. But, her calling has always been civic service. From 2003 - 2006, she served as a member of Rwanda's parliament, after which she assumed the Mayorship of Kigali.

As a very important side note, the Rwandan government has purposefully infused the country's top leadership with women. In part, this was done in an effort to help stop the violence.

In Rwanda's new constitution, 24 out of 80 seats in the parliament's lower house are reserved for women. In the 2003 general elections, 15 additional women were voted into non-reserved seats. Six of 20 seats are reserved for women in the upper house. As a result, Rwanda now leads the world rankings of women in national parliaments (49% representation compared to the world average of 15%).

Our meeting with the mayor on Wednesday morning came at her request, and it started an important series of conversations throughout the day. After she provided us with an overview of the Kigali governmental structure, I asked the Mayor if she could, among all the opportunities facing the city, prioritize for us the most pressing needs.

Her top priority was the allocation and ownership of land. Before this last September, the concept of owning property in Rwanda was a foreign concept. Now, people can purchase land for periods of time with options to renew (similar to how land is bought and sold in Hawaii). This has opened a completely new market (i.e., real estate), but it has also created an incredibly complicated task in terms of city planning.

Following the introduction of land ownership, the Mayor explained that the next pressing need is the safety and security of people on their land.

Finally, she emphasized something we have heard repeatedly throughout our trip: vocational training to solve the high rates of unemployment. She outlined three categories of people needing training: (1) those with no schooling who are unemployed, (2) those with schooling without jobs, and (3) those with jobs who are underemployed.

After a while, she said that there was actually a fourth category that perked the SEP team's ears. She stated that there are people like herself who are educated and positions of responsibility but who still need training and mentorship.

At the end of our meeting, this subtle outreach was made explicit. Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira unashamedly asked the group for help. She requested that we find someone who would be willing to live in Kigali for six months on a "modest stipend" to, among other things, help her renovate Kigali's highly lacking legal system and to assist in city planning.

While none of us are currently in a position to relocate to Rwanda, we do plan to offer her ongoing consultation through SEP members Mike Poulos, Senior Partner at the world's largest law firm, DLA Piper (http://www.dlapiper.com/), and (very good friend of The Chicago School) Phil Utigard, Executive Vice President of Transwestern, one of the nations largest commercial real estate firms (http://www.transwestern.net/).

April 23, 2008

One of the keys to social entrepreneurship is networking.

In our meetings throughout the week, the mission of our group circulated across many circles. Joy Rucyahana, Rwandan attorney and advocate and daughter of Bishop John, became familiar with who we are and what we were trying to do. Using her connections, she initiated contact with the Ministry of Education on my behalf and arranged meetings for me with Narcisse Musabeyezu, Inspector General of Education (pictured here) and the Minister of Education (who I will highlight in a subsequent post).

Narcisse's job is to ensure the quality of Rwanda's education at the primary and secondary levels. My briefing with him on Wednesday morning was to prepare me for the meeting later in the day with the Minister, and he was also information gathering to prepare the Minister for his meeting with me. While Narcisse's focus is on pre-collegiate education, he is also acutely aware of the profound mental health needs of the children in his country and how these affect their ability to benefit from the educational system.

I talked with Narcisse about The Chicago School and its commitment to expand the reach of our services and programs. I recounted my preparatory research, conversations and direct observations about the ongoing need for trauma counseling for Rwanda's youth.

He stated, "I thought that over time the trauma would lessen. In fact, it has become worse."

There are several reasons why this is likely the case, including hundreds of thousands of orphans now reaching late adolescence and early adulthood, the ripple effects of death following intentionally transmitted HIV/AIDS through genocidal rape tactics, and a political and religious environment in which outward expressions of anger, rage, and hostility has been purposefully suppressed in order to maintain social control.

Another source of ongoing trauma is the genocide trials.

When the dust of the genocide began to settle, there were at least 120,000 accused genocidaires awaiting trial. The UN established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to prosecute the high level persons who orchestrated the genocide. This initiative has largely failed - as of 2004, the ICTR had only held 15 trials.

A second source of retributive justice lies within Rwanda's own judicial system. However, this was devastated in the genocide in that nearly all judges and lawyers were either killed or fled the country. A decade after the genocide, only 5,500 people had been tried through the Rwandan courts.

At that pace, it would take 200 years for all Rwandan genocidaires to be tried for their crimes.

In June 2002, the Rwandan government sanctioned a third type of judicial process, the gacaca (Kinyarwanda for "justice on the grass"), in which the community tries and sentences those who choose to confess or have been fomally charged with genocidal killing.

The gacaca is not a new concept to Rwanda; it was actually a pre-colonial invention in which community leaders publicly resolved local disputes. If you are interested in reading a comprehensive review of the gacaca system of justice, and the potential ways in which it could actually exacerbate the ethnic divide in Rwanda, see Corey, A. & Joireman, S. F. (2004). Retributive justice: The gacaca courts in Rwanda. African Affairs, 103, (73-89).

Back to how this legal process relates to trauma. In the gacaca trials, those accused or who wish to come forward, dressed in light pink attire, stand before their community. Survivors who witnessed their acts testify. Security issues have emerged in which potential witnesses have been threatened and even killed, reducing general willingness to participate. Defendants speak on their own behalf, and local leaders with minimal legal training render verdicts.

The gacaca process, while expediting the incredible backlog of Rwandans awaiting trials in overcrowded prisons, opens decade-old but unhealed wounds, and community members who participate are being retraumatized.

At the conclusion of our meeting, both Narcisse and I clearly agreed on the need to increase the competency of counselors across numerous sectors. While the National University of Rwanda recently opened the country's first graduate program in psychology (a Masters in Clinical), they are only able to train about 16 students per year - clearly not enough to meet the staggering demand.

In addition to formal, degree-based education, teachers, community leaders, clergy, and NGO field staff (i.e., those already working in the field) need practical, applied training to increase their knowledge and skills. The lingering question, of course, is how to fund and deliver accessible, culturally and contextually appropriate training to those trying desperately to mend the countless lives affected by a trauma the likes of which the world has rarely seen....

April 23, 2008

I suspect few claim that Theoneste Mutsindashyaka (Minister of State, Education Ministry) does not speak his mind.

When I entered his spacious (but very warm) office, I was welcomed by the Minister as well as one of his senior staff. As a common business practice, Joy Rucyahana (the Bishop's daughter who facilitated the meeting) was there to physically make the introduction. She was invited to join the conversation. Over the next ten minutes, about five other leaders entered the meeting. Progressively, it occurred to me how serious the Rwandan Ministry of Education was taking The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

A prior Mayor of Kigali and Governor of the Eastern Region, Theoneste is a respected and results-driven leader. Despite his powerful presence, he listened quietly to me speak while he leaned back in his chair and nodded thoughtfully.

I extended deep thanks and appreciation for the warmth our group received while visiting Rwanda and shared my impressions about the educational needs of the country.

The lack of formal training for mental health professionals is glaring. As I mentioned in another post, the National University of Rwanda only recently launched a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, but, as a rather traditional degree program, its capacity to meet the mental health needs of the country is tremendously lacking. To my knowledge, there are only three psychiatrists in Rwanda, and I'm not aware of any doctoral level psychologists.

The need is more pressing and extensive than what the Rwandan educational system is currently able to provide, I explained. I shared my confusion throughout the week as I heard public and private leaders struggle with the "lack of resources" they see in Rwanda. "There are tremendous resources here," I stated, "and they are the Rwandan people. The best way to build the capacity of your resources is through education."

I suggested that the country consider collaborating with a specialized institution of higher learning in the development of an online counseling certificate program. From a solid base of basic counseling knowledge, skills, and attitudes, focused training opportunities in trauma, HIV/AIDS, reconciliation, domestic violence, and substance abuse could meet specific population needs.

Theoneste offered periodic words of support such as, "Everyone should have a counselor" and "Every teacher should go through counseling training."

I went on to suggest that the emerging technological infrastructure of the country could support wide dissemination of the program. I emphasized the need for local constituents, including existing counselors, teachers, clergy, community leaders, and higher education professionals, to work with content experts to identify the specific counseling competencies desired and, from there, design a culturally relevant, politically acceptable, and evidenced-based curriculum.

The Minister paused, leaned forward, and proclaimed in no uncertain terms, "We want it."

He went on to enthusiastically state that he wants for The Chicago School to build a school in Rwanda, and I explained to him that the complexities of doing so right now would probably distract from our ability to quickly address the more immediate need of increasing the competency and effectiveness of those already serving as counselors in the community.

I also encouraged him to consider what the Ministries of Education and Health could tangibly provide to incent the private education sector to partner on such an initiative, and several ideas were discussed.

Over the coming weeks and months, I will be consulting with one of Theoneste's senior staff to map out a plan to hopefully bring a training program like this to Rwanda. Clearly, I'll be looking for ways in which The Chicago School can directly lend its expertise, expand its reach, create new opportunities for faculty and students, and make a meaningful contribution to a recovering country that very much welcomes our assistance.

April 24, 2008

Fourteen years ago, Rwanda plunged into hell. Is reconciliation and rebuilding at this point really possible?

I believe it is.

While significant strides have been made by existing and emerging leaders, the needs and opportunities within the "Land of a Thousand Hills" remain great. Not unlike this luxury home under construction, Rwanda hopes to build something grand. Yet, the scaffolding remains pretty shaky.

The key to Rwanda's success is, of course, their people. They are hopeful, eager, and unashamedly turning outward for help. Yet, many are young and new to positions of large responsibility.

This is what I saw and heard them say to be Rwanda's greatest opportunities:

Civic Leadership: When the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) took control of the country and ended the genocide, it imposed tight governmental controls to prevent subsequent waves of violence. From more than one source, I heard the current administration described as a "benevolent dictatorship" in which dissention is risky and reconciliation and rebuilding are the only options.

However, the Republic of Rwanda is now attempting to decentralize certain governmental functions, a critical step in building a true civil and democratic society. After a decade-plus of non-local decision making, current community, regional and district leaders are seeking knowledge and skills to help them better serve their constituents.

Vocational Training: With a very high unemployment rate, Rwanda is seeking to bridge the gap between a primary/secondary educational system that is inadequately preparing people for the workforce and a higher education system inaccessible to the vast majority. Kigali in particular is exploding with job opportunities. Construction is popping up everywhere, and new businesses are emerging. International companies want to migrate. Untapped export markets remain. Raw materials currently shipped out for manufacturing could be produced domestically.

The bottom line is that Rwanda realizes that it shouldn't have to turn to outside labor markets to build their own infrastructure and that far too many unemployed Rwandans are currently burdening the economy instead of contributing to it.

Judiciary Development: An already underdeveloped legal system was devastated by the genocide. With a mind boggling backlog of genocide trials and the relative absence of critical civil and criminal judicial processes and resources, it is difficult for Rwandans to seek justice and fairly resolve legal disputes. People understand that the need to develop a more solid legal infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as the country moves more and more into international partnerships and trade.

Public Planning: The opportunity to own property in Rwanda is less than one year old. Little needs to be said about the significant implications this holds for the future of Rwanda, but it is important to note that the public planning of a progressive 21st century capital city of Kigali will need to consider cultural beliefs in which ancestral land has significant spiritual meanings.

Private Sector Development: As discussed throughout my postings, the emerging business entrepreneurs have incredible ideas and vision. But, they appreciate that their businesses are new and vulnerable. With a population in which less than 3% are over the age of 65, there are few seasoned professionals to mentor the next generation. In addition to solid traditional business practices, Rwandan business men and women are seeking specialized training, including how to effectively build public-private alliances.

NGO Capacity Building: Rwanda continues to receive significant financial contributions through the donor world, and the majority of this money is used to support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that deliver a range of humanitarian services. Not unlike the large human services agencies with which the school partners, the NGOs in Rwanda are attempting to address large social problems with limited financial and human resources. They seek partnerships so they can do more with less, maximize the efficiency of their operations, and demonstrate their impact in the community.

Counselor Training: The opportunities for counselors in Rwanda are, unfortunately, without limit. Incredibly high rates of trauma, HIV/AIDS, and parentless children demand increased human service intervention. The Rwandan educational system understands that it is not equipped to sufficiently train the number and types of counselors it needs.

In addition to mental health treatment, the country seeks qualified psychology professionals to aid in ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Where is reconciliation still needed?

Between genocidaires and Imana (God). Between victims and Imana. Between survivors and the Church, some of whose leaders directly participated in the killings. Between both perpetrators and victims and the bazimu (the spirits of the dead), who under even ordinary circumstances are seen as malevolent, sad, and suffering. Between the ethnic groups. Between the Rwandan people and the governments that colonized them, assisted in the genocide, and turned their backs on them when they needed them the most.

Though there is no overt hostility seen in Rwanda, any reasonable person can appreciate and understand the lingering anger and guilt which, through their spiritual system, manifests in various forms and levels of fear.

Are Rwandans optimistic and committed to rebuild? Yes. Are they warm and friendly with each other? Yes. Are they working side-by-side and engaging in daily forgiveness? Yes.

Is their emotional work (and the emotional work of the generations to follow) done? How could it possibly be...?

While my trip to Rwanda has ended, I encourage you to stay tuned to this site as I explore different ways for people to get involved in the engagement work that I and the school are doing. In the meantime, I leave you with a few questions for either private reflection or public comment:

Do you think a genocide like this could ever happen again? [If unsure or think not, Google "Darfur"]

With a country so open for assistance, how can you make a difference (no matter how great or small)?

What can you take from your learnings about Rwanda and apply to your own work in the community?

April 25, 2008

I would like to take a moment and thank a few of the many people who made this amazing journey possible.

Without The Chicago School's vision to radically expand its reach and to bring its unique educational offerings to the international stage, considering engagement opportunities in a country like Rwanda would be far fetched. Instead, the school's innovation, growth, and ambitious social mission has put us in a position where we can collectively leverage our intellectual capital and service capacity to make a big difference in a world that desperately needs what we have to offer. I deeply appreciate the school's willingness to support me in this on-ground exploration of such opportunities in Rwanda.

In addition to the administration, I thank those at the school who helped by setting up this blog and gathering preparatory reading materials, including Saraheva Krancic (Director, Online Marketing & Web Communication), Matt Nehmer (Director, Communications & Public Relations), Amanda Kim (Director, Center for Multicultural & Diversity Studies), and Nancy Dubrow (Director, Center for International Studies).

I would also like to thank GRDP for organizing the trip and compiling an amazing group of social entrepreneurs with whom it was an honor to travel. SEP members included Chris Hills (President, GRDP), Dave Ormesher (Board Chair, GRDP; CEO, closerlook, inc.), Mike Poulos (Senior Partner, DLA Piper), Randy Rollinson (President, LBL Strategies), and Phil Utigard (Executive Vice President, Transwestern). Much credit for the group's success also belongs to GRDP's in-country representative, Achille Karuletwa, who did an amazing job of orienting us to the country, arranging meetings and transportation, and bridging language and cultural gaps.

I offer special thanks to all of the leaders in Rwanda with whom I had the privilege to meet during my short visit. I have highlighted a few in my posts, but there were many more who helped educate me about the country's past, present, and future. These included Joy Racyahana (Attorney/Advocate), Dennis Weller (Mission Director, USAID-Rwanda), Ryan Washburn (General Development Officer-Economic Growth, Democracy & Governance, USAID-Rwanda), Justus Kayonga (Managing Director, Property Solutions), Pierre Munyura (Deputy Country Director, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Program), Jane Gatete Abatoni (Rwandan Association of Trauma Counselors-ARCT), Francis Mugisha (Managing Director, Management Consult & Associates), Fabien Munyankiko (President, Kivu Manufacturing), Christian Niyonkuru (Director, Strategic Actions Network), Manzi Kayihura (Director, Thousand Hills Expeditions), Julius Kayonga (Senior Partner, K-Advocates & Partners), and Emme Rubagumya (Ministry of Education).

Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, and colleagues who offered much needed encouragement and support while I was very, very far away. Your steady stream of phone calls, e-mails, text messages, blog comments, and well-wishes reminded me of the many blessings waiting for me upon my return.