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The History

Our first international project was launched in Kigali, Rwanda in the Fall of 2007.  Angela Cerkevich worked with the international NGO, Never Again Rwanda to identify 30 young Rwandans to receive yoga instruction.  All of the participants have been directly affected by the genocide, have varying degrees of education and range from 17 to 30 years of age.  Thirteen young adults from this group were selected to go through an intensive teacher training with the hopes that they could share their yoga knowledge and practice with their respective communities.

Anahata’s Presence in Rwanda Today

In March of 2008, Angela returned to Kigali with Radhika Thakkar, another DC based yoga teacher to provide additional teachers training, expand the yoga community and network with local organizations to further Anahata International’s impact in Rwanda. During this trip, Angela and Radhika were able to accomplish the following:

• Provide 30 hours of in depth teacher training for 17 new teachers
• Introduce yoga nidra for trauma recovery and self study
• Lead daily community classes for more than 30 students
• Teach Rwandan women how yoga can be especially helpful for their health and community issues
• Establish relationships within leaders and activists within the local community to facilitate future partnerships between Anahata trained teachers and local initiatives

Anahata International continues to support the growing yoga community in Rwanda.  Today, our local teachers consistently lead classes in and around Kigali and their reach ranges from working with young children, elderly population, women and adults.  The yoga teachers are supported by Benon, a university student that has been active in organizing youth through peace promoting activities.  Anahata International works with Benon and the teachers on a regular basis through email and phone communication to provide additional support and education.

Meet Anahata’s Teachers in Rwanda

What Next?

Anahata International will return in early 2009 to continue to build on the work in progress with a stronger emphasis on creating sustainability.  The plans for next year’s trip include the following:

• Advanced teacher training on yoga philosophy and technique for the experienced teachers.
• Training in the instruction of Yoga Nidra to add to the Rwandan yoga teachers’ tools for helping their communities cope with past trauma.
• Assisting trained Rwandan teachers in creating a yoga event for the annual Week of Commemoration in April 2009, the 15th anniversary of the genocide is 1994.

Looking Ahead…

Building on the success of the Rwanda Initiative and the partnership with TheARC, Anahata International seeks to expand its presence domestically and abroad.  We have begun evaluating opportunities to work with additional communities and we look forward to formalizing our next international project in 2009.

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