The ICCG World Meeting & Council in Rwanda

From 11 to 16 July 2018 the whole world reunited in Rwanda for the International Conference of Catholic Guiding. Under the theme "Let's Open the Doors of the Future", Association des Guides du Rwanda was honored to host 40 countries at CENETRA Hotel, located in Masaka.

Daily updates:

Day 1:

The first day of ICCG - CICG Meeting kicked off with a welcome note from the World Council Leader Catherine Faucher, followed by a mediation session under the guidance of the World Chaplain Father Jean-Luc. Thereafter, the participants went through the Rwandan history and its progress after the 1994 Tutsi Genocide, a presentation by the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Claudine Delucco Uwanyirigira. In the afternoon, the delegates visited local women associations to learn how the government of Rwanda supports vulnerable women to get out of poverty.

The opening ceremonies were also held the first day, and they started with Holy Mass led by their Excellencies the Apostolic Nuncio and the Bishop of Byumba, who is also the President of the Commission of the Lays. After the mass the partipants tasted different food from other countries while enjoying the Rwandan cultural festivities.

Day 2:

The second day started with a reflection session as usual, thereafter the participants went in different groups to exchange ideas on different topics including:

1. Sexuality, homosexuality, sexual life 2. Sects and their practices, fundamentalism 3. Young people’s lack of interest in religion, growing secularization 4. Instability, refugee in the era of globalization 5. Family 6. Man/ woman: sexual discrimination, unequal treatment, violence against women 7. Environmental and ecological issues

Participants were engaged into interesting discussions, different perspectives from different contexts.

Day 3

All participants visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre to learn from the Rwandan harsh experience so they can keep promoting peace and unity through the Gospel. They laid flowers at mass graves and cited prayers of comfort to families who lost their relatives during the 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

After this visit, a Holy Mass of reflexion was organized at St Paul, which was folllowed by a quick tour of Kigali centre before heading back to the hotel.

In the after each region met to evaluate their achievements for the last three years and set up new goals for the upcoming triennium. Meanwhile, Africa Region elected a new ICCG regional committee, with Alice Some from Burkina Faso as the chair, replacing Martha Lebiria from Madagascar.

Day 4

The fourth day marked the beginning of the World Council, an important decision making platform in which democracy is at the centre. In the morning all regional committees and World Board were presenting their achievements for the last three years. They have also discussed on the financial report while agreeing that there is need to increase the culture of paying the membership fees.

During this meeting, the members voted Burundi Girl Guides Association and Association des Guides du Niger to become full members of ICCG.

Day 5

On the fifth day, all ICCG members were eager to elect the new World Board Chair. The candidates were from Liban and Madagascar. At last, Marie-José Kahale Khoueiry from Association des Guides du Liban won the maximum of votes and is now the Chair of ICCG.

The next steps was to elect the next World Council host. Competitors were Colombia Democratic Republic of Congo. Colombia was voted and will be hosting the next ICCG CICG World Meeting and Council! in 2021.

We would like to scream “Big Thank You” to all participants who flew to Rwanda for the ICCG - CICG World Meeting and Council. You have been very good to us and we will cherish every minute spent with you. Special thanks to the World Board for their guidance and support throughout the way.

Murabeho!