Fostering a Culture of Remembrance

From 10th to 16th May UEM co-workers in the Personnel Exchange Programme as well as some scholarship holders and youth volunteers in the African Region met in Rwanda. UEM exchange co-workers serve member churches in Tanzania, Cameroon, Namibia, the DRC and in Rwanda as medical doctors, physiotherapists, experts for finance and development and pastors / lecturers at theological colleges at church run institutions.

The conference was hosted by the UEM member churches in Rwanda (EPR, EAR) and Eastern Congo (CBCA).

Apart from visits to church run projects and the sharing of experiences in the service as exchange co-workers the conference focussed on the topic "The wholistic work of the churches in Ruanda and Eastern Congo, a vehicle for reconciliation and development". Dr. Pascal Bataringaya (EPR) stressed that development will not be feasible without nurturing the process of reconciliation. "The churches in Rwanda actively support a culture of openness and remembrance in order to promote reconciliation in the country. We trust that God gives us the power to continue to do so." Morning and evening devotions as well as the bible studies also addressed this main topic of the conference. Moreover, participants took time for prayers for the people in the Great Lakes Region.

At the end of the conference the co-workers, scholarship holders and volunteers as well as the representatives of the hosting churches expressed their gratitude about the opportunity to be able to continuously learn from one another and to further grow together as VEMily.