Our History
Turning points in SEVOTA’s history
Following the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi people, a Rwandan woman had the inspired idea to help women in distress, including the widows who had survived the genocide in her area (Taba, Southern Province), to emerge from their extreme physical and psychological isolation. Confronted with the human distress that resulted from that tragedy, SEVOTA’s founder was inspired to bring widows who had survived the genocide together with other widows in order to provide an environment in which they could grieve and speak openly of their sorrow.
A Brief History, From The Bugoba Church In Taba
Godelieve Mukasarasi had made a bargain with the Lord: She would initiate a divinely-inspired charitable effort, and in return, she’d have her children alive at the end of the Genocide. At first, she thought of opening an orphanage. One Sunday, after the Eucharist at the Bugoba Church, she prayed for enlightenment. She had a vision of women approaching in tears, then of those same women walking away with laughter. Next, an image came to her of children approaching in tears, after which they, too, walked away laughing.
The idea came to her to found a guidance services for Taba’s widows and orphans (Service d’Encadrement des Veuves et des Orphelins de Taba, SEVOTA) in order to help the most vulnerable members of her community to flourish. That Monday, she went to speak with the Chief of Taba Commune. On Tuesday, the municipal council was informed of her plan and agreed to help her get the process underway.
1994: SEVOTA FOUNDED IN TABA
SEVOTA was conceived of in October 1994 and officially began operations on December 28, 1994, just after the genocide, with 26 widows and Godelieve, to help promote the rights of widows and orphans from the then-commune of Taba, currently part of the Kamonyi District in Southern Province.
Activities carried out
Identification by administrative authorities of widows, orphans, and survivors of the genocide in need of support. The data collection was carried out by the founder, Ms. Godelieve Mukasarasi, with the assistance of her children and their friends.
Mobilization of widows by former officers of the Centre Communal de Développement et de Formation Permanente (Communal Development and Continuing Education Center, CCDFP), of which Godelieve was the manager, and by the local authorities, encouraging them to join voluntarily to share their terrible experiences and analyze their problems in order to find appropriate solutions. They joined together for mutual aid and solidarity actions through people’s cooperatives (Ibimina) and the joint pursuit of agricultural activities.