Friends of my sister, hearing some of Clementine’s story, felt inspired to help her. An orphan from the genocide, she has no extended family to call upon. These friends pulled together to help her purchase a block of land on a hillside newly opened for development by the government. They hoped this would provide her with some security for times to come.
Clementine was ecstatic! She says she has family now, as these people looked after her as her own parents would have wanted to.
The story doesn’t end there. Clementine had enough money left to begin the foundations of a house. She hopes that as the years pass she will be able to add to the building. Three days after the paperwork was finalised, excited, she had a team of men digging in the garden to prepare the ground.
Unfortunately, on the second day work stopped abruptly and shock resounded when the workers discovered bones. Remains from the genocide. The police dealt with the remains efficiently, storing them for reburial at a service during the next Genocide Memorial Week.
Clementine was reeling. She couldn’t sleep for days kept awake by memories and threatened by bad dreams. What was she to do? The wonderful gift now was now tainted with a link to unthinkable times.
Clementine returned to the government office and asked if they would exchange the land for another block in the same area. They were happy to help, and exchanged it without additional fees.
Now Clementine has a new block, and intends to start work on it soon. When my mum visited recently she showed her the new land. It is further away from Butare’s prison, a little further from town, with a beautiful view. She is very happy. We hope the slightly bumpy beginning ends as intended in giving her some security in times to come. Clementine certainly feels it will. She feels loved by people who cared.
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