Fermanagh victims and survivors group, South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) representatives have travelled to Rwanda for a journey of education and discovery.

Speaking ahead of the trip, Kenny Donaldson, SEFF’s Director of Services, explained the rationale for the trip to Rwanda, where almost one million people were slaughtered in 100 days of intense violence in what has become known as The Rwandan Genocide, in 1995.

“Over the years, many have looked to South Africa and other places in seeking to compare and contrast Northern Ireland’s issues as we emerge from 30-plus years of intense violence and continued sporadic violence.

“The truth is that no two nations nor their historical context are identical. However, we have felt within SEFF that one nation which is seldom examined or understood is Rwanda.”

He continued: “Four years ago, through the offices of Thrive Ireland we met with Christophe Mbonyingabo for the first time.

“Christophe is the founder and Executive Director of Rwanda-based Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Assistance.

“We found that there was alignment in our core values; around the sanctity of human life and of the power and gift of forgiveness made possible through grace when a perpetrator has expressed remorse for their actions, genuinely repented of their wrongdoing, and is committed to a path of restitution.”

The group who departed last week are now more than halfway through through their 12 days of travelling around Rwanda, and will engage with victims and survivors of the genocide, some perpetrators who have repented of their crimes, as well as church and state representatives. They will also hear perspectives from Hutus and Tutsis.

The group hopes to learn in Rwanda what they can to encourage the Rwandan people to develop and build for the future. They will also leave take part in a ‘Cow for Peace’ ceremony.

Of this ceremony, Mr. Donaldson said: “It takes place where two cows paid for by SEFF and partner churches involved with this initiative will be handed over to local Rwandans. We will also leave behind a legacy enabling the development of a well within a local village.”

‘Very challenging’

Mr. Donaldson concluded: “With the exception of myself, those SEFF reps attending are all individuals who had immediate loved ones murdered as a result of terrorism. We expect the trip to be very challenging, emotionally but also spiritually.”

Those attending include Canon Alan Irwin, Colaghty Church of Ireland, Lack, whose uncle Frederick was murdered in 1979 by the Provisional IRA (PIRA), with his father, Thomas, murdered seven years later, again by the PIRA; Paul Toombs, Co. Armagh, whose father, Ivan, was murdered by PIRA in 1981; Sammy and Katie Heenan, Co. Down – Sammy’s father was murdered by the PIRA in 1985; and Yvonne Black, from Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, whose husband, David, was murdered by The Real IRA in 2012 on the M1 motorway near Portadown as he travelled to his work.