
A Journey to Rwanda: Compassion, Community, and Connection
By Tonnie Cummings, Rwanda traveler and member of the Together Women Rise chapter in Vancouver, WA.
Reflecting on my recent Together Women Rise trip to Rwanda, these are the images that stick in my mind: row after row of brilliant, green hills extending to the horizon; brightly-colored birds flitting about and calling from dawn until dusk – even in downtown Kigali; and the huge, warm smiles of every single Rwandan we met. The consequences of the horrific 1994 genocide continue to influence their lives, but Rwandans have chosen to reconcile in order to heal and to unify their country. There is a true sense of community and of people looking out for one another. For example, every able-bodied adult participates in a monthly day of community service, called Umuganda, that involves cleaning neighborhood streets, maintaining public parks, or other activities that contribute to the overall wellbeing of the country.
On our trip, we were fortunate to visit four Together Women Rise grantees that embody the Rwandan spirit of compassion and community.