World Ark Magazine - November/December 2007 - (Page Cover2)

HORIZONS|GIFTS OF PEACE Dear Friends … By Jo Luck President and CEO The Heifer animals in Rwanda are providing not only much-needed nutrition, but also creating bonds of cooperation—and even friendship— between Hutus and Tutsis. lthough the pain of Rwandan genocide still looms in the hearts and minds of the sur vivors, today Rwandans are restoring harmony among fellow citizens as they heal from physical and psychological devastation. The road to reconciliation is not easy, but, as President Bill Clinton said when he spoke at the dedication of Heifer’s world headquarters last year, Africa is the most hopeful place on Earth. I visited Rwanda this summer, and I have heartening news to report. While the scars of violence still mar this lush and mountainous land, the spirit of the people speaks of unity and optimism. Heifer International is helping families get back on their feet with gifts of cows and training. It’s the same model Heifer uses around the world, but the projects here are special. Since Heifer recipients must pass on the gift of their animals’ offspring to others in need, there are many instances where members of ethnic groups so recently at war are relying on each other for the animals and know-how they so desperately need to rebuild their lives. The Heifer animals in Rwanda are providing not only much-needed nutrition, but also creating bonds of cooperation—and even friendship—between Hutus and Tutsis. As I walked through the province of Gicumbi surveying the new shelters that now house cows and calves, a woman named Benjamine Mukakajuga put her hand in mine and walked with me. She wanted to tell me that her cow means everything to her, her two biological children and the four orphaned children she took into her home. When A Mukakajuga found out she was HIVpositive, her husband abandoned her, but that same year she became the proud owner of a cow that soon began producing more than five gallons of milk a day and has since birthed three calves. The milk brought strength and health to her and her children, and the sale of the milk pays for food and medicine. Mukakajuga’s story is reminiscent of others like it throughout Rwanda. Orphans from the war have found new families, and many adult survivors have seen their family ranks swell. In this issue of World Ark, you can read about Mukakajuga and several more of these brave individuals who took on the care of the children left behind and who are heroes in my eyes. You can also read more about how Heifer projects in Rwanda are expanding to help people heal while building what we hope will be a lasting peace. At year’s end as we reflect on our blessings this holiday season take a few moments to think about Benjamine Mukakajuga and her six children. Think about Rwanda’s many stories of survival and hope. Think about the hopeful future of this country, where after years of war and recovery, families are passing on the great gift of peace. Let’s enter the new year with a renewed, shared commitment to a better world.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - November/December 2007

World Ark - November/December 2007 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked & Answered Pursuing Happiness (PRODUCT) RED: Consumer Power Fights AIDS in Africa Rwanda Reconciles End Hunger Now Protecting the Poor from Climate Change Mixed Media Heifer Bulletin Heifer Spirit Heifer Calendar Reflection

World Ark Magazine - November/December 2007

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