| Rwanda |
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| Fast Facts of Rwanda |
| Population: 9.9 million Languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English, Swahili Major religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Adventist, Islam Date entered by WorldVenture: 1965 Number of WorldVenture workers: 7Location of WorldVenture work: Kigali |
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| The Land and the People of Rwanda |
Rwanda is located in the east-central region of the continent, just two degrees south of the equator, Rwanda has been called the Switzerland of Africa. Beneath the physical beauty, however, flow currents of deep ethnic tension. Three ethnic groups, the Twa (pygmies), Hutus and Tutsis, inhabit Rwanda. Although these peoples lived in peace, intermarried and spoke the same language for hundreds of years, heavy fighting between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes broke out in 1990, exploding in the genocide of 1994. At that time hundreds of thousands of men, women and children died, and countless more fled the country. To this day thousands of Rwandans are imprisoned as suspects in the attempted genocide. The country has made remarkable progress in reestablishing peace and order; but the society is still marked by the trauma of 1994.
The country’s leaders are trying to push the country ahead into economic develop. At this point, however, the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. Education is advancing rapidly – this is the first generation in which the majority of those finishing high school are going on to university.
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Rwanda Map | Satellite
Click and drag the map. Use the zoom tool on the right to zoom down on a city or area. Click the Hybrid view to see both map and satellite imagery; click the Satellite view to see satellite imagery. |
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| WorldVenture's Work in Rwanda |
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WorldVenture began work in Rwanda in the early 1960s. Church growth was tremendous from the mid 1970s until the late 1980s. However, in response to spiritual decline among church leadership, WorldVenture workers launched New Creation Ministries in 1992. The goal of this ministry is to provide in-service training to leaders of any evangelical church, including programs for lay leaders and small group discipleship. Additionally, current focuses for the WorldVenture Rwanda team are ministry to children at risk, and strengthening God’s people through Christian education and encouragement. List ministry opportunities in Rwanda
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| Goals and Future Direction of the Work |
| WorldVenture’s vision for Rwanda includes increased efforts in the areas of humanitarian aid and logistical support of Christian relief organizations working with Rwandan refugees. Workers now entering the field hope to establish outreach ministries to children who have become AIDS or war orphans, have been sexually exploited or are street children. |