Mbyo is one of several reconciliation villages in Rwanda. These villages bring together genocide survivors and convicted perpetrators (or their families) in a shared community, as part of Rwanda’s national reconciliation efforts. In Mbyo, the reconciliation is described as “practical reconciliation”: people engage in shared, hands-on activities (rather than just dialogue). More than half of the residents are women, and women play a very active role in reconciliation through community-led economic and social projects.  

When I arrived I was greeted with an overwhelming welcoming love. chairs were arranged in a circle. We sat and I listed to the stories from perpetrators and survivors..

One of the most prominent activities is a basket-weaving cooperative, where women gather, weave, and talk. The cooperative helps build trust, provides income, and enables relationship-building across past divisions.  

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Prison Fellowship