From Brokenness to Bridge Building: Isabelle's Transformative Role in Rwanda's Recovery
In the heart of Rwanda, a country still healing from the wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, there are stories of resilience, forgiveness, and transformation. One of such stories is that of UWAMABERA Isabelle, a 37-year-old woman who has turned her personal pain into a mission of healing and reconciliation.
Isabelle was just six years old when the genocide shattered her world. Born into a large family in Kicukiro District, the capital city of Kigali, she lost 21 family members, including siblings. The horrors she witnessed left her with deep emotional trauma, physical injuries, and a permanent spinal cord condition that made life even more difficult.
With no access to proper education and an unstable environment, she struggled with isolation, despair, and an overwhelming sense of loss.
“Before CARSA, I lived a life filled with pain and trauma. I couldn’t speak freely, I couldn’t laugh, I hated everyone, and I felt like life had no meaning.”
In 2013, Isabelle’s journey toward healing began when her church invited her to CARSA’s seven-day Empower Workshop—a program designed to help genocide survivors and other affected people heal and restore their lives. Though she arrived filled with pain and uncertainty, the workshop gave her a safe space to share her experiences, find inner peace, and rediscover joy.
“I went to the training with many tears, but the love and support from the facilitators helped me feel good to laugh again. I finally had someone to talk to about my pain.”
Through the program, she found the strength to forgive the person who killed her father—a moment that marked the beginning of her new purpose in life.
“I had peace in my heart and was able to socialize again. Shame disappeared. I learned to forgive truly, even the person who killed my father.”
One year after her transformative experience, in 2014, Isabelle felt called to help others find healing and reconciliation. She became a community facilitator with CARSA, working to connect genocide survivors and perpetrators in the journey of reconciliarion.
For over ten years, she has helped thousands of individuals and families heal from their past, rebuild relationships, and work toward unity and forgiveness. Through programs in trauma recovery, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution, she has become a beacon of hope in Muhanga and Kamonyi Districts.
“This is a very important work because it gives new life and peace of mind. But it requires a lot of prayers and a strong heart to help even those who have suffered more than I did.”
One of Isabelle’s greatest achievements is helping former enemies become friends. She has facilitated emotional encounters where survivors and perpetrators acknowledge their pain, seek forgiveness, and rebuild trust.
“Imagine bringing together someone who killed countless people and a survivor who lost their entire family. These people, who normally have no reason to meet, come together because of God and the psychological supports we provide.”
She also plays a critical role in helping genocide perpetrators reintegrate into society. Many individuals completing their prison sentences for genocide crimes turn to her for guidance in seeking forgiveness.
“We show them love, explain the consequences of their negative actions, and help them understand that the genocide survivors are not their enemies. Slowly, they change, making it easier for them to apologize and ask for forgiveness.”
Beyond individual healing, Isabelle and other facilitators emphasize the importance of erasing divisions among Rwandans. She teaches that there are no ethnic groups in Rwanda—no Hutu, no Tutsi, no Twa—Rwandans are one and equal humans.
“Now we understand that all Rwandans are one. The only weapon that can free us from division is unity and truth.”
Her personal testimony is one of the most powerful tools she uses. By sharing her own story of loss, trauma, and ultimate forgiveness, she proves that reconciliation is possible.
CARSA continues its mission to empower women like Isabelle, equipping them with the tools to address trauma, promote reconciliation, and build a peaceful Rwanda. Through her unwavering dedication, Isabelle has helped transform numerous lives, ensuring that the wounds of the past give way to a nation built on unity, peace, and love.
“What keeps me doing this work is seeing people change, watching former enemies become friends, and knowing that I am contributing to rebuilding Rwanda.”
Let’s keep celebrating women like Isabelle, whose courage and compassion continue to shape Rwanda’s future—one healed heart at a time.
Isabelle Potrait photo
Isabelle was doing the excitement gest to the woman(beneficiary) at Empower Workshop
Isabelle was leading the small group of women in Empower Workshop at Kamonyi District
Women at small group in a 2-day Empower Follow-up in Muhanga District
Group photo of women after completing the Empower Workshop at Kamonyi District
Excitement photo: Isabelle in the light side along with her collegues
