Meeting with AVEGA’s Co-ordinatrice Madam Consolée Mukanyiligira and a group of 20 widows.
Mme. Mukanyiligira explained that AVEGA was founded in 1995 by a group of 50 Kigali women widowed by the genocide. The organisation has grown phenomenally; there are now over 25,000 members. AVEGA focuses on health and social problems faced by widows; they have programmes and trained staff who aim to treat the medical and psychological effects of trauma. AVEGA offers financial assistance and aims to empower AVEGA members. AVEGA also works for justice for its members.
Mme. Mukanyiligira explained some of the challenges faced by AVEGA’s members: many widows are caring for children orphaned in the genocide; the women often feel that they are unable to share their experiences of rape and torture and suffer trauma because of this; some women are now dying of AIDS contracted through rape, AVEGA helps the children of these women; women who are standing as witnesses against perpetrators often feel intimidated
AVEGA faces severe difficulties. They are under funded and Never Again was told that international donors are providing less and less. AVEGA tries to help their members replace housing and infrastructure destroyed during the genocide, but has very limited resources. AVEGA also argues that the Rwandan state does not provide enough support to survivors, again because of a lack of finance. A few of the widows present at the meeting shared their horrific experiences during the genocide.