Today is our last full day in Rwanda. Leaving will be very sad, bittersweet; I will be very glad to be home in the surroundings that I am used to, or was used to, but I will miss Rwanda and Rwandan culture, and the people that have become part of our Rwandan network.
Yesterday we had a very productive meeting at AVEGA, the association of female survivors. They have a model of treatment based on family and community, with individual therapy as we know it being only an adjunct to group therapy and community work. The West can learn from that. Today in the afternoon we are going back to attend a group therapy session for women who were victims of violence. Since the group will be conducted in kinyarwanda we will probably sit in the back and listen, and try to follow it with the help of our translator.
We have been amazingly privileged in terms of what we are allowed to be part of. I think it is because we were conscious of making personal connections first, so that we became part of their friendship network. It also helped that Denise and I came there as a team, because they are used to people working in teams. So, in addition to Denise's amazing strengths, I don't think I could have done it without her presence.
After AVEGA we went to a local cafe, right around the corner from the hotel. Two Rwandan "bluesmen" played guitar and sang songs from the mississipi delta: how long will this train be gone, leadbelly, lightning hopkins, and also chicago blues. The place seemed to be a hangout for young people from the NGO's, the embassies, and maybe some trust fund expats. I think that they are part of a new global community just being formed.
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