This year marks the 31st anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, a period of unimaginable darkness. Yet Rwanda is a testament to extraordinary resilience, a story of the enduring human spirit. In this inaugural episode of "Rwanda Rising," we begin a special series exploring the lives within the Foundation Rwanda community. We begin with Agatha, a survivor and mother. In 2007, she was a woman marked by deep shame and isolation as she recounted the horrific violence she endured, including the devastating betrayal of her neighbor, who used a machete to knock out her teeth. Today, we share her powerful testimony, translated and recorded for this podcast, a testament to her journey, her strength, her resilience, and her unwavering will to smile again.

Trigger Warning: Please be advised that this series addresses sensitive topics related to the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath, including experiences of sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised.

To survivors everywhere: You are not alone.

Resources:

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network in the US): rainn.org
• Solid Minds Counseling (Rwanda): https://solidminds.rw/
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): https://www.nsvrc.org/survivors
• Foundation Rwanda: foundationrwanda.org (Out of respect for the privacy and safety of the Foundation Rwanda community, our site is not available in Rwanda.)
• Survivors Fund (SURF): https://survivors-fund.org.uk/
• AVEGA Agahozo: https://avega-agahozo.org/

Special thanks to: 

• Agatha for her courage in sharing her powerful story.
• The amazing PR and podcast production team at Fallow, Field & Mason for their generosity and pro bono support: Juliet Fallowfield, Franceska Knechtli, and Sam Scougall Knight.
• Leah Rose, Andrew Hida, Aidan Sullivan, Kevin Smokler, and Eric Bonabeau for their insightful critiques. 
• Production and sound engineering: Dan Lawrence, Jim Greer, and Hida Visuals. 
• Foundation Rwanda’s incredibly dedicated colleagues and partners at Survivors Fund: Samuel Munderere, Raban Havugimana, Emilienne Kambibi, Vincent Nyawuma, David Russell, Liliane Umuhoza, and Jeanette Kawera Kajette.
• The Foundation Rwanda team: Sara Solfanelli, Dan Kusnetz, Jonathan Torgovnik, and Mike Gordon. 
• The Glo Good team: Dr. Jonathan B. Levine and Stacy Levine. 
• Schulte Roth & Zabel for their pro bono legal support. 
• Our amazing translator: Carine Ingabire. 
• Rwanda eound engineering: Ernestine Mucyo.
• Original music by Alyn Sano and artwork by Shyaka Ob. 

© 2025 Foundation Rwanda.