Preparing for the next Fundraising Event

Charity/Fundraising Race Night/Auction

3rd February 2012 

7pm - 12pm

The Trust Suite, Lincoln City Football Ground

Tickets £5 each 

On sale in the New Year

For more information please get in touch

Fundraising Update 2

I've just about collected all my sponsorship money from my first fundraising event at the beginning of October. I'm completely overwhelmed and proud to announce that the first event raised £730.00.  Thank you so so much for all your support.  Unfortunately I still have a little way to go but this was definitely an amazing start.

I'm finding it really difficult to update my blog at the minute, writing about a place you haven't visited yet is really hard.  I've just started reading a book called "A People Betrayed" by Linda Melvern in preparation for my visit.  It has an amazing write up and as I make my way through it I'd really like to share a little of what I read with yourselves.

Once again thank you for your continued support.

WE DID IT - 25 Mile Sponsored Walk

At 9.30am on what turned out to be the hottest October day on record, myself and an amazing group of friends embarked on my first fundraising event for Rwanda, a 25 mile sponsored walk around Rutland Water.

During the week leading up to the day we agreed on the route we would take and plotted stop off points around the map.  Rutland Water runs in a circuit so at the end of the day there were only two directions we could go in.  We all agreed to leave the peninsular section until the end just incase people wanted to leave that bit out.

We all headed off eager and looking forward to the day ahead .... it soon became apparent that out of the only two directions we could go in .... we started off in the opposite direction than originally planned ... oops ... this meant we walked the peninsular section first which in the end proved to be the best route to take, it was one of the hardest sections and we were all relieved that we did that be first.

After the initial blip and a quick re-arrange of stop off points we settled comfortably into the walk and started to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.  The heat was a problem and we all had to keep reminding ourselves to drink plenty of water.  Unfortunately after about 14 miles the heat became too much for Annie and sadly she retired at that point along with her daughter Joanna.  A huge well done and thank you to both of you, your support was hugely appreciated.  The remaining seven had a well deserved half hour lunch break and then continued with the walk.

The last 4-5 hrs of the walk was definitely the toughest.  Feet were hurting, joints were aching and the sun was still pounding down on us all.  Despite all of this we kept going, stop offs for some became shorter through fear of not starting again, for others they were relished and a chance to take on extra fluid and a fifteen minute break.  For the last four miles we had separated into two groups, both determined to finish but at their own paces.  Discussions had become one worded sentences and at times not even words just grunts.  Every walk up and descent of a hill became a mini challenge in itself, especially when every muscle in your body is fighting against you.

I would like to mention at this point that the final sign to the Horse & Jockey Inn (our finish line) which stated "one mile to go" was quite clearly a blatant lie and should have read "at least two miles to go" .... nuff said.

At 6.30pm, nine hours after we started the first group which included myself, Martin & Tracey reached the finish line and a well deserved pint.  Every muscle and bone in our bodies hurt and we weren't entirely sure how we were going to sit down and drink our pint but the sense of achievement was overwhelming.  At 7.15pm Jo, Jeanne, George & Johntie finished and were more than ready for their celebration drink too.

Writing this one day on from the walk, how am I feeling? Well, apart from the fact that every muscle in my body still hurts and walking around  is proving to be an issue ..... I am also feeling an immense sense of achievement and pride, not just for myself  but for everyone who walked with me.  I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined me, despite the heat and pain it was a fantastic day and its all down  to an amazing group of friends and their support.  Thank you & well done x 

Gisimba Orphanage

When we go out to Rwanda next April, one of the places we are due to visit is Gisimba Orphanage.

In 1994, the Gisimba Memorial Centre had approximately 60 orphans.  During the genocide as Rwandans fled for their safety, the Gisimba family opened the orphanage doors to protect and shelter over 400 people.  After a harrowing couple of months surviving for long periods without food and water these people were eventually saved with the help from an American Aid Worker called Carl Wilkens.  

After the genocide in 1994, the majority of the children that came to Gisimba were orphaned as a result of the genocide, however, today many of the children who have more recently come to live as Gisimba have been orphaned by AIDS and issues related to poverty. 

Presently Gisimba is home to approximately 150 children and youths between the ages of  2 and 22.  These kids and youths are bright, warm and have a curiosity for life. While their situation is tough, these children are resilient and you can't help but feel and sense a strong feeling of support and love within the walls of the Gisimba orphanage. Older children pitch in and act as older "brothers and sisters" to the younger children. Soccer and games fill the yard when school is out and children support day-to-day life doing chores and helping out.

The leadership and staff at Gisimba are committed and play a key role in providing a nurturing, supportive and safe place for these children to grow. While they are provided for in many ways—there is a great need for better food, programs of support for development, health and education. 

In spite of great challenges, there is a sense of hope and community that has been built at Gisimba. One that, given the support needed, will continue to flourish and grow providing for the children and youth there, but also to the community. 

We’ll be visiting the Orphanage on the second full day of our field trip next year.  I have no doubt that as a mother of two I will find this experience tough going, but just through the research and reading up I’ve already done on Gisimba I’m sure I will find the children there inspirational and can’t wait to have the privilege of re-telling their stories on here.

Fundraising Update 1

I am overwhelmed by the amount of support I'm getting for my first fundraising event on the 1st October.  Not just with the sponsors and donations that are coming in but also with the offers of support in joining me on the walk, thank you everyone.  So far there are 9 of us planning to walk the 25miles around Rutland Water.  If anyone else fancies joining us for the day let me know, you would be more than welcome.

First Fundraising Event - 1st October 2011

25 MILE SPONSORED WALK

RUTLAND WATER

1ST OCTOBER 2011

On the 1st October I will be walking 25 miles (supported by some good friends) around Rutland Water Lakes.  Although I am hoping to fund as much of the trip as possible l do need to do a bit of fundraising along the way too.

To sponsor me you can either e-mail me your details at lynseycollinson@googlemail.com along with the amount per mile/total amount you are willing to donate or alternatively you can sponsor me straight away using the link at the side of this blog.

The Aegis Trust and Rwanda

Education:-

Aegis has been working with the Rwandan Government to develop and deliver a national genocide education programme which was launched in June 2008.  The programme not only teaches the youth of Rwanda, but will eventually reach out to the African region and around the world, next April l will have the opportunity to witness the education programme in action with a group of students visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.

Memorials:-

In April 2004, on the 10^th anniversary of the genocide which tore Rwanda apart in 1994, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre was opened.  The Memorial Centre is an international Centre, dealing with a topic of international importance, with far-reaching significance.  The Centre is designed to engage and challenge the hearts and minds of its visitors. 

Following a visit by members of the Rwandan Government to the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Centre and Aegis Trust, founded and managed by Dr’s James and Stephen Smith, Aegis was invited to build the Centre in partnership with the Kigali City Council.

The Memorial Centre is a place where the bereaved can bury their families and friends – the human remains of over 250,000 victims of the genocide are buried at the site – a clear reminder of the cost of failure to protect people at risk of genocide.

Burials continue to take place at the Centre - the city is developing and during this development human remains are still discovered.  Also, the Gacaca trials are just coming to an end - during these trials, leniency has been offered to perpetrators on condition that they provide information about where victims are buried. (The Gacaca trials are part of a system of community justice inspired by tradition and established in 2001 in the wake of the genocide).

The Centre exists as a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide, as a place for Rwandans to grieve for those who were lost and as a warning from history for the region and the world.  It hosts three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the genocide in 1994. There is also a children’s memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. The Education Centre, Memorial Gardens and Documentation Centre of the genocide all contribute to a meaningful tribute to those who perished and for a powerful educational tool for the Rwandan and international community.

Aegis has managed the Centre since its opening, and on 16th August, 2011, agreed to continue to manage the Centre in partnership with the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) for a further 10 years.

The Aegis Trust has helped support other memorials around the country.  The church at Ntarama and the memorial at Nyarubuye still house remains of the dead and remain a testimony to the devastation that affected every community in the country. Aegis also created the Memorial and Exhibition at Murambi – a school where over 40,000 were slaughtered.  In another attack, people fled to another school at ETO (Ecole Technique Officielle) as it housed 90 Belgian Troops serving with UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda).  But following the death of 10 Belgian Troops the rest of the troops were withdrawn.  Each Memorial has its own tragic story. 

For more information on the Kigali Memorial Centre follow this link - 
Kigali Memorial Centre  

As you can see this is just a very brief overview of what the Aegis Trust do in Rwanda, in the coming months leading up to next April l hope to share with you more detailed information as l learn more myself.

"Land of a Thousand Hills"

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RWANDA


Often referred to as ‘Pays des Mille Collines’, literally, Country of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is a far cry from the common conception of the arid deserts of Africa. A small country compared with neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda, Rwanda nevertheless boasts a beautiful and varied landscape.

Green trees, rolling hills and rugged mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. Lakes and rivers provide welcome relief from the heat, and lend a luscious aspect to the land, inevitably causing the growth of a variety of shrubbery, trees (including Jacaranda trees) and wild flowers covering the shores of the lakes.  A landlocked country located in Central Africa, on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Rwanda is also bordered by Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

Rwanda’s capital is Kigali, which is located in the geographical centre of the country. It is a rapidly growing city and boasts significant development over recent years.

The scorching heat that one would expect from a country situated just south of the Equator, is present in some areas, but Rwanda’s high altitude ensures that the weather is more clement than visitors generally anticipate.

The luscious landscape is fed by two rainy seasons, the first beginning sometime in late February and extending until April, and the second spanning early October up to December. The mountainous areas are generally mild and are occasionally susceptible to frost and snow.

Rwanda’s plains and lower slopes mainly consist of agricultural land, with coffee, tea and bananas forming a large proportion of the nation’s permanent crop harvest. In the northern higher slopes, there are active volcanoes which are today visited by tourists on a regular basis. Rwanda is also home to a large number of mountain gorillas, brought to the world’s attention by Dian Fossey’s famous and remarkable work with these primates.

The country’s road system has been greatly improved and extended, travel between major cities and neighbouring countries is far safer and easier than in rprevious years. Over the next few years, several international projects are planned to improve the country’s transport system, including proposals for a new international airport, train line and roads.

In 1994, the genocide that devastated Rwanda claimed the lives of over 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a 100-day slaughter.  Although it will take decades, the people of Rwanda are determined to rebuild their society.  In 2003, following visits to Britain’s first Holocaust Centre by Rwandan genocide survivors and members of the Rwanda Government, Aegis was invited to build the first national Rwanda Memorial and Education Centre and to advise on rebuilding the community, specifically using commemoration.  The Centre’s groundbreaking programmes challenge divisive ideology in schools and the community, document the genocide and provide practical support for orphans and widow.  Its programmes help to build community cohesion and encourage work experience and employment..

The one-week field trip, led by the Aegis Trust, will provide many opportunities for the whole group, as well as individuals.  It will:

Ø  Engage with leading women in Rwanda – the only country in the world with a majority of women in its Cabinet - and see the explicit role they’re playing in the country’s rebuilding plan;

Ø  Provide a private audience with appropriate levels of the Kigali Institute of Education, Kigali Institute of Technology and Management, and the National University of Rwanda;

Ø  Provide a private audience with the Head of the Rwanda Development Board

Ø  Visit Memorial sites and attend specially organized seminars and workshops examining issues from working with youth to reconciliation and the future of Rwanda;

Ø  Hear from and share experiences with genocide survivors (and perpetrators, where possible);

Ø  Explore exchange/international student learning, and practical business development

Ø  Engage with Rwandan educators and students, and discuss the role they are playing to help shape their country;

Ø  Provide a deeper understanding about the Rwandan genocide and its relevance to community cohesion and integration in British communities today.

This is just a very brief overview of Rwanda and the planned field trip next April.  Over the coming days and weeks l'll post a number of blogs detailing each of the areas mentioned above.  I really look forward to sharing my journey with you.

Beginnings

Hi.

My name is Darren, the man who is fortunate enough to be married to Lynsey, for whom I have set up this blog.  Lynsey has no prior experience of blogging but, as she is starting out on what I am sure will be a challenging and emotional journey to the heart of the Rwandan genocide, she will need somewhere to catalouge her thoughts and experiences.

Why is Lynsey putting herself through this, she is not the most naturally overt person you will meet, indeed anyone meeting her for the first time may even describe her as a little timid, she is not.  Lynsey is fierce and loyal and loving once you get to know her, which is why when Lynsey was presented with the opportunity to visit this area of Rwanda, meet the people, listen to their stories and experience their culture, she instantly knew she had to do it.  Not only for herself, but to pass on what she learns to those groups of people that she helps and interacts with on a daily basis.  To give talks in schools, women's groups and youth centers.  To show what people can achieve, even after facing unimaginable horror and hatred.  To show how people can learn to look beyond the past and move towards a better future together.

I am immensely proud of her decision to undertake this and she will have many hurdles to overcome even before she leaves, not least of which will be funding the trip.  But there will also be other challenges, how to prepare herself for meeting the people who lived through this, how to live with meeting children in the local orphanage, looking at their faces and then returning home to her daily comfort, knowing they must remain.

I have no doubt that Lynsey will meet these challenges in the same way she always does, by preparing carefully and then just doing it, knowing that she has the support of a loving family and friends. 

Good luck Lynsey, the blog is now all yours.