HappyThursday :)
It seems there is a lot of shift happening just now in the lives of people I know, including me! I feel strongly drawn to living even more authentuically.
I wish to develop thehappygelateria into a global social enterprise that supports the work of the Unity and Peace for Development Cooperative-Friendship program (UPDC) in Rwanda. I met Costa, a beautiful and courageous man, at the School for the Work of Byron Katie last October. He is involved with inspirational work in his country to bring forgiveness and reconciliation to his community which includes many widows and orphans of the genocide that occurred in 1994. During a period of approximately 100 days between April and July Hutu militia in Rwanda aimed to completely eradicate the Tutsi people. This failed, although the death toll is etimated to be 800,000-1,000,000 people. Now the Rwandan people are still in trauma after the event. There is conflict and hatred on both sides. As the UPCD reports: People cannot forget in their mind that Hutus are those who killed their relatives, who raped them, who amputated their arms/legs, who destroyed their houses, who plundered their cows, and other such atrocities.
On the other side, Hutus hate Tutsis, as the aftermath Genocide caused the splitting of their families and relatives as many of the Hutus were sent to prison for their actions.
Both parties are traumatized by what they experienced
All parties live in fear and horror.
Today the UPDC has 40 members who are committed to bring unity and peace for sustainable development by working to unify both the Tutsis Genocide Survivors and Genocide perpetrators (mostly Hutus), through developmental activities as well as Byron Katie's inquiry system (through The Work).
Their work is amazing and an inspiration to us all. They tell the story of Alice and Emmanuel, amongst others: Emmanuel is the one who cut off the hand of Alice during the Genocide. Today, through UPDC, they have been able to reconcile their differences.
If they can mange it, then surely we can follow their example of forgiveness and peace.
Here is an outline of what the UPDC does:
Train community members in peace building and reconciliation.
Train community members in basic intervention of traumatized persons, especially during Gacaca courts and mourning periods (April to July).
Facilitate handcraft cooperatives with basic materials (fibers, paint, needles and sewing machines)
Look for markets to sell handicraft products
Register and support OVCs (orphans and vulnerable children) to join vocational training
To date, 3 OVCs are in welding and 1 is in tailoring.
Provide CHHs (Child headed households) and OVCs with medical insurance.
Train community in IGAs (Income generating activities) and micro-project management.
So begins an exciting chapter as I aim to support this project through www.thehappygelateria.com. I feel so happy to be working for something bigger than myself and I love that it involves supporting children.
Recently I have also strongly remembered how I felt as a child. I spent a lot of time bewildered and confused at any conflict I saw around me. I had a strong sense that there was enough love, joy, food, shelter, significance and belonging to go around and there is no need for us to struggle or fight. I see this again clearly now and need to work towards promoting it and bringing the message that we are all significant, and we all belong simply because we are here. May we all relax in the safety of this.
I'll love you and sign off just now :)
Take care
with much love
Shona 
Tags: Shiftliving Authentically Personal Growth
