Quiet Strength- Blandine's Story

As we sat and listened to the different water user groups tell how they worked together to collect materials and money from crops to build the rank catchment tank they share, Blandine sat quietly in the background, hugging on the kids that sat by her. Those in the group talked about the impact that Blandine had in bringing them together, educating them on hygiene & sanitation, encouraging them in exploring what needs they could meet as they worked together.  I quickly realized that this quiet woman was far from quiet. She was the catalyst in the community.  She was bringing people together - she was a leader.  Yet, as I was listening to the stories of those she influenced, I was curious about her story.

One day after a long hike up the volcanic terrain to visit with some of the communities who were in the process of building their tank, we decided to take an impromptu journey.  The main road in Cyanika leads to the Uganda border, and Blandine had never been across the border.  Just a few miles from her home, but she had never been.  So we decided to cross the border - and enjoy a Coke.  It was there where she shared her story with us.

When Blandine got married to her husband, Courageous, they moved to the community near the volcano.  She became a mother to 5 children - 3 boys and 2 girls while teaching in the local primary school for 15 years.  However, after the genocide, she stopped teaching, and decided to dedicate her time to the community and her church.  She first began to bring neighbors and friends together to restore and heal the division and pain between individuals the genocide left behind.  As they continued to meet, the began to ask 'what other needs do we have that we can address together?' That was when the topic of water came up: they either collected water at the lake at the bottom of the mountain or at a stream at the top of the mountain--both options were far away and treacherously steep.  Some had even lost their lives trying.

They began to build rain collection tanks on their own when their efforts were discovered by Blood:Water Mission's local partner.  Through the partnership, lending our technical expertise and bringing in educational resources to strengthen the work already begun by Blandine and her community, the entire community of Cyanika is on track to be fully covered with sufficient water collection by the end of 2011.  Additionally, community members can now focus on their farms and crops rather than spending time getting water.  The groups continue to meet to discuss what other projects they can do together - such as buying livestock and developing biofuel options for cooking.
 
Some people look at their circumstances, and wonder who is going to help them.  Others realize that someone is them, and they begin to make a difference - starting in their own neighborhood.  That someone is Blandine.  And she is a hero in the hearts of her friends, family and neighbors and in mine, too.