Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the smallest countries on the African continent and also the most densely populated. There are about 525 inhabitants per square kilometre! Because of its natural landscape, Rwanda is known as the “land of a thousand hills”, and because of its history, also the “land of a thousand problems”.
Overview:
- around 14 million inhabitants
- in 1994, it was the scene of a genocide — in just 100 days, about 1 million people of the Tutsi ethnic group were murdered and 2 million fled the country
- an agricultural country — about 62% of the working population is employed in farming (coffee, tea, bananas)
In 2024, we organized long-term palliative care for
33
persons in the country
We finance the education of
27
children of employees and deceased patients
07.09.2017
He died as he lived. Yesterday evening he ate supper with delight and drank half a cup of tea. The nurse left for a moment to check if she gave him all his medicine. When she returned, Anselm was dead. The end came so unexpectedly that the nurse was still eager to remind him that he had laid down uncomfortably and wanted to help him get into a more comfortable position on the bed. Then it turned out that he had fallen asleep for the last time, with, of course, a smile on his face.
His whole life, Anzelm had been a teacher. Only a week ago, he received a visit from former students of his. The adult students came to thank their teacher and reminisce about school times. In Kabuga, Anzelm shared a room with Kevin, a teenager with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whom we sent to school thanks to you. Anzelm made sure Kevin did not forget to do his homework. He also taught him English and good manners.
It seems like Anzelm felt his end was near because his smile and gratitude for staying with us in the hospice was even more pronounced yesterday. We helped this man experience a few wonderful years in our hospice and he returned the favor by teaching his last lesson – that it is always worth smiling.
