Philbert Kalisa was born in a refugee camp in Burundi. His incredible story took him from that camp to seminary in London, to ordination as an Anglican priest and then to post-genocide Rwanda in 1996. There he found his heart moved to do work that others turned their back on- the hard work of leading reconciliation and healing. Today Philbert’s organization REACH Rwanda has brought thousands of perpetrators and survivors together to find the way to a peaceful future. Through leading truth-telling, reconciliation workshops, restorative justice projects and creating safe spaces, Rev. Kalisa is a true Changemaker. African Road is proud to partner with him.
This is the 25thyear since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, when more than one million Tutsi’s and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days. 25 years is not that long ago. Rwanda has risen from the ashes in those 25 years and is now the safest country on the African continent and one of the top 10 safest in the world. The choice to rebuild rather than retaliate is a hallmark of the story of Rwanda. At the same time 25 years is not that long ago and deep pain lies just beneath the surface for many people. The ongoing work of reconciliation is essential.
Reverend Kalisa works across society, bringing government leaders, church and religious leaders across denomination and faiths, civic leaders, and ordinary people from all walks of life, together to tell their stories, to be heard and to find personal healing and societal healing. Perpetrators and survivors who lived in shame and in fear or dread, who distrusted each other find a new way forward and become friends and neighbors.