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Mukankubana Rose & Kwizera Jean Pierre

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Mukankubana Rose tells her son about finding strength as an orphan, as a widow, and as a mother, and the secret to raising children in difficult times. Kwizera Jean Pierre is curious about the influence of their older family members, the hardest decision she had to make between education and the love she had for her family, and a book written by his uncle.

Umamwezi Philomene & Masengesho Rosine

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Both Masengesho Rosine and her grandmother have experienced the hardships that women faced, the genocide, and life as orphans. But have never before spoken to one another about their lives. Umamwezi Philomene acknowledges the hurt and suffering women in particular have struggled with in Rwandan history, but sees a bright future for Masengesho Rosine through her youth and educational opportunities. Most importantly, she reminds her that all Rwandans should stand together for justice and peace, and being an orphan does not mean you cannot find a parent to advise you in times of need.

Kabandana Louis & Nkusi Faustin

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Kabandana Louis and Nkusi Faustin have different reasons to explain why elders and youths no longer share stories, histories, and proverbs. Yet they also discover both sides might be much more willing to talk than they thought. They discuss the growing equality for women and how important it is to remember the past even if new ways might be better. Kabandana Louis talks of female soldiers, folklore fears, and the impact technology has on Rwandese oral culture.

Mujawiyera Josephine & Habineza Fidei

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Habineza Fidei seeks the advice of his adoptive mother about how to plan a family, negotiate difficult situations with his new wife, and preserve important traditions in a changing world. Mujawiyera Josephine remembers being the most beloved of her father's children, and describes the neglect her siblings suffered as the family increased in size. She counsels her son only to have as many children as he can love fully and support financially.

Rwihisha Tharcisse & Murorunkwere Janet

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Ruhigisha Tharcisse and Murorunkwere Janet have never spoken about his past as a refugee who went from country and country after 1959, living in poverty in refugee camps. He eventually trained himself in a skill and was able to sustained himself. She has many questions for him. Ruhigisha Tharcisse has advice for her about how to sustain herself and has high hopes that she can survive with dignity.

Mukangarambe Pascasie & Gahigi Jean Pierre

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Mukangarambe Pascasie wants her son to know his maternal family history, since he knows little about her life as a young girl, and why her marriage to Gahigi Jean Pierre's father did not work out well. She describes that the difficulties for young girls right after the genocide, their need for protection and love after terrible times, led many into hasty marriages. Her father was a hero to her before he died, “a loyal creative man” who was determined to give them a good future, the best he could.

Rwamucyo Denys & Hadasa Esther

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Hadasa Esther respects her uncle, Rwamucyo Denys, and wants to know his life history. Rwamucyo Denys tells her about the identity cards that they were forced to carry before the war and how his family fled to Burundi to escape violence. Hadasa Esther asks her uncle many questions about the nature of ethnic discrimination and he reminds her that “All of us are Rwandese” and should be united. Despite the many hardships Rwamucyo Denys has been through, he wants his niece to stay positive and always concentrate on doing what is right.

Ingabire Janviere & Umurerwa Divine

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Ingabire Janviere wishes to tell her sister Umurerwa Divine about all of the hardships that she has faced in her life. How “life after war became too bad.” Yet despite all of these struggles, she trusted God, found people to help her, and she endured. Umurerwa Divine learned a lot from her sister, and she said that she will continue to pray that God helps her throughout the rest of her life.

Musabyimana Epiphanie & Hakizimana Justin

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Hakizimana Justin and Musabyimana Epiphanie are siblings who lost their parents during the genocide. Since Hakizimana Justin was very young at the time, he wants his older sister to tell him about their family, ethnic discrimination, and the many hardships that she went through after the genocide. Since he has no other adult to turn to, Hakizimana Justin also asks Musayimana Epiphanie for advice about how he should behave in different settings. As any good older sister would do, she advises him on the proper way to live his life.

Mukamageza Chaste & Uwayezo Janvier

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Uwayezo Janvier and his landlord, Mukamageza Chaste, discuss techniques to finding a successful marriage like Mukamageza Chaste's. What should he do so that his wife will be happy? What must he never do that would hurt his wife? How do you deal with differences within the couple? He admires the life Mukamageza Chaste has managed to create for herself and asks her how this was possible for her.

ARTICLE PUBLISHED

SEPTEMBER 2014 - Archival Science 14 (Nos. 3-4, 2014): 275-306. Available here

FOUNDER PASICK WINS PRESTIGIOUS PURPOSE FELLOW PRIZE

OCTOBER 2014 - Founder and Director Patricia Pasick, Ph.D. has been honored as a 2014 Purpose Prize Fellow which recognizes “outstanding social innovators over aged 60 who are working to change the world by finding solutions to challenging social problems.“
http://www.encore.org/patricia-pasick

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