Roger Callahan Meets TFT’s African Leaders and Rwandan TFT Trainers

Left to right: Prosper ISHIMWE, Celestin MITABU, Roger Callahan, Deacon Augustin NZABONIMANA, Fr. Jean Marie VIANEY

by Joanne Callahan, MBA, President, ATFT Foundation

During the month of September 2011, four of our top Rwandan practitioners, and leaders of our ATFT Foundation’s sister charitable organization, IZERE Center, and director of the Rwandan Orphans Project, attended training to become trainers and further spread TFT in Africa. This ATFT Foundation project took place with the help of the St. Stephens Catholic Diocese, five Hawaiian agencies, and the hard work and dedication of many Hawaiians.

ATFT Foundation’s on-going Rwandan team, Suzanne Connolly, Caroline Sakai, and Gary Quinn supported their training and needs while in Hawaii. Suzanne was team leader on the deployments to Rwanda and support for the planning and facilitation of this year’s project. Caroline was team leader for this project in Hawaii. Her organization of everything was masterful. Gary provided much love, care, transportation and fun for our guests.

Roger and I had the wonderful opportunity to observe the Rwandans at work with the TFT trained staff of the Hale Na’au Pono, Waianae Coast Mental Health Services. We were impressed with their skill and level of supervision as well as the skill, professionalism and care of the staff at Hale Na’au Pono.

Roger at Hale Na’au Pono. Left to Right: Carole, Ho’oipo DeCambra, Roger Callahan, Jacquirie, Po’ka, with a beautiful quilt made by the Rwandan Orphans as a back drop.

During our time in Hawaii, we were deeply touched by the stories shared with us from the Hawaiian volunteers and the discussions with the four Rwandans. Fr. Jean Marie VIANEY, Deacon Augustin NZABONIMANA, and Prosper ISHIMWE were originally trained at the IZERE Center in 2009/2010. Fr. JMV and Deacon Augustin are directors of the center and have helped over 3000 people since learning TFT.

Celestin MITABU is the Director of the Rwandan Orphan Project, which was our first mission to Rwanda, with Paul Oas to help the Kigali street children. It was here that Suzanne Connolly and Dottie Webster started the Rwandan Quilting Project as a means of income for the orphans. The study, done in 2006-2007 was published last year.

It is so rewarding to see how these hard working and dedicated young men have shared TFT with thousands of traumatized people in both Kigali and Byumba. We are so inspired to hear their hopes and dreams of healing their country and people. The ATFT Foundation is dedicated to a long collaboration with them, helping many.

We thank all the people who have donated funds, time and services to allow the training of our Rwandan TFT practitioners. They have become highly skilled trainers, sharing the healing power of TFT with those in need in Hawaii, and those traumatized in their own county and neighboring African nations.