AMIZERO MENTAL CARE CENTER (AMCC) PROJECT

While Rwanda has achieved significant development gains and stability after the genocide against Tutsi (1994), the efforts towards long-term sustainable peace must be sensitive to the presence of trauma within Rwandan society and seek to redress it. The research made by the Government of Rwanda highlighted that mental health is fast becoming one of the defining health challenges for the country. Therefore, studies from various countries have shown that people exposed to traumatic experiences run a greater risk of poor life outcomes, including compromised physical health, risky behaviors like dropping out of school or substance abuse, poor economic self-sufficiency, or poor parenting skills for the next generation (Willman, A., 2014).

The fact that mental health can be easily exploited to incite future conflict and violence, efforts toward sustainable peace must be sensitive to address trauma. There is also a more general impact on development outcomes associated with the redress of trauma and mental health wounds from conflict and violence. This is why a deep and holistic trauma-healing approach is needed to continue peace-building and sustainable development in Rwanda.  Consequently, CD-ABK is motivated by existing social challenges and the available opportunities to invest in Kigali City, especially in the health sector. The decision was taken to develop a Mental Care Centre in consideration of the existing context of the area.  In addition, this project fits in the vision and mission of CD-ABK in both areas of resource mobilization and transformative diaconia.