Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Epiphanie Mukamazinpaka (36), a survivor, sits beside a man who was involved in the killing of nearly her entire family, whom she has chosen to forgive. She lost her eight siblings, parents, and nearly her own life in the 1994 genocide when, on the first day of the genocide, a Hutu mob, including Jean Baptiste Sibomana (49), burned down her grandmother's house where they had sought refuge. At age 6, she also survived an attempted rape. Through a CBS Rwanda survivor socio-therapy group, Epiphanie met Jean Baptiste, who served 12 years in prison. After his heartfelt apology, they reconciled.
 P.S.: The text on the small poster: “Lord, thank you for helping me stand on my feet and not allow my enemies to gloat over me. Psalm 30:2.”

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Survivor Liberatha Nyirasangwa (70) sits with a man who took part in the killing of her twin, whom she has forgiven.. She lost three of her 11 children, including twins murdered by Hutu men who attacked her house at the start of the genocide. Her entire family was also killed. After the genocide, she (in her own words) was 'insane' and consumed by anger for years.
Finally, Liberatha joined a CBS Rwanda socio-therapy group, where she met Alphonse Ranyemera (78), a perpetrator who served 15 years in prison. Alphonse, part of the group that killed her twins, apologized and asked for forgiveness.

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Marianna Nyirantgorama (58) , a survivor , with the murderer of her sister, whom she has forgiven. She fled with her family to a church when the genocide began, where most of them were killed. She and one sister survived by hiding among the bodies, and later escaped to Bisesero, where many Tutsis died after being abandoned by French peacekeeping forces.
In 2018, Marianna joined a CBS Rwanda social therapy group, where she encountered Marc Nyandekwe (60), a neighbor who killed her sister, looted their home, and participated in the Bisesero killings. During therapy, she forgave him.

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Celestin Kayijuka (70, left) lost four of his seven children and 17 relatives in the genocide. He bears many scars and a limp from a brutal attack while fleeing.
Jean Marie Mukyenrwari (62, right), who murdered Celestin's father, served 10 years in prison and confessed during a gacaca trial to qualify for amnesty.
Through CBS Rwanda’s socio-therapy, Jean Marie apologized to Celestin and his brothers, leading to reconciliation. "At parties, we now dance together," Celestin says.

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Solange Uwamahirwe (23) struggled with shame and anxiety due to her father's role in murdering Elie Zmanizabayo's (40) father – especially when she saw her father's face reflected in her own. Elie, once consumed by revenge against all Hutus, eventually joined a socio-therapy group with Solange. Hearing her story of shame and fear, and after her father sought his forgiveness, Elie reconciled with both Solange and her father.

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Ancile Unabagira (57, right) lost her husband, parents, and two siblings during the genocide. She fled with her three young children, surviving with help from kind Hutus.
Nyiramimani Ancile (52), who betrayed four relatives of Unabagira's husband, later joined the same CBS Rwanda socio-therapy group. There, Ancile Unabagira learned of Nyiramimani's extreme poverty, including having barely any clothes and only banana leaves as a mattress. Moved by her story, the two embraced, finding reconciliation.

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda. Clever Kadurira (68, right) lost his wife, three children, father, and six siblings in the 1994 genocide. The three crosses in his backyard mark the graves of his father, mother, and oldest brother.
Faustin Nizeyimana (76), who murdered Clever’s brother, served 12 years in prison. He was released in 2006 after providing full disclosure during a gacaca. Afterwards, he and his accomplice apologized to Clever in Kigali. Today, Faustin is the treasurer of their "self-help group."

Healing Wounds: Reconciliation in Post-Genocide Rwanda Rafael Mageza (66, left), a perpetrator who served 12 years for murder, overcame his fear and approached survivors after his release, even running a bar frequented by them. Pascal Mutarambirwa (58), a survivor, lost his wife, three children, and most of his family in the genocide. Rafael, who was involved in killing Pascal’s parents, initially sent his son to apologize before his gacaca trial. Pascal accepted the apology but insisted on a public one. During CBS Rwanda’s socio-therapy, Rafael gave this public apology, and they reconciled. Remarkably, one of Pascal's sons later married a daughter of Rafael's uncle. They were photographed in Rafael’s son’s bar.