Missions

Mission to Rwanda, March 14-26, 2008

We were privileged to be invited to participate in a Healthcare and Medical Education delegation to Rwanda, sponsored by the People to People Citizen Ambassador program started by Dwight D. Eisenhower. These programs promote understanding and cooperation between people of different cultures.

The purpose of our trip to Rwanda was to participate in a cultural interaction and professional exchange of ideas and information with counterparts in Rwanda. There were 24 participants including medical doctors, psychiatrists, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, pharmacists, various kinds of social workers, medical researchers, radiographers, medical technologists, and a physical anthropologist.

During our ten day visit, we visited HIV/AIDS and OB/GYN clinics, urban and rural hospitals, orphanages, schools, genocide memorial sites, the National University of Rwanda, a United Nations Millennium Villages Project, as well as the famous Hotel des Mille Collines or “Hotel Rwanda.” Delegation members also contributed medical and school supplies along with new and used clothing.

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and is often associated by Westerners with its history of genocide. It is now a stable, vibrant, forward looking country working diligently to recover through various mechanisms of justice and reconciliation. The international community is providing huge amounts of foreign aid to assist in Rwanda’s recovery.

We will be presenting a mission statement on June 8 and a Saturday morning mission report on June 21.

Diane Bowers-Parr and Bruce Gelvin