A Rwandan mission for Sabrina

When former Paddington resident Sabrina Sibomana chose to give peace a chance that meant moving her baby daughter into the same Rwandan community where her in-law’s killers still lived.

Sabrina and Jean Nepo Sibomana and their daughter Raphaella back home in Paddington. Picture: John Appleyard

When former Paddington resident Sabrina Sibomana chose to give peace a chance that meant moving her baby daughter into the same Rwandan community where her in-law’s killers still lived.

Ms Sibomana and her husband Nepo, both 35, met after the then University of Sydney masters student went on a study tour to Africa and they bonded over their passion for finding sustainable solutions to eradicate extreme poverty.

They launched their charity The Mustard Seed Institute in 2015 from the relative safety of the country’s capital Kigali.

However, it soon became clear that while early initiatives like establishing a pineapple plantation to bring genocide perpetrators and survivors together were bearing fruit, something more was needed.

Speaking on a trip back home to Sydney for the Rotary International Peacebuilding Conference, the couple spoke of their recent decision to move with 18-month-old Raphaella to Rwankuba, the community of 6000 where the then 11-year-old Mr Sibomana’s whole family were slaughtered.

The Sibomana family have started a social enterprise to help rid Rwanda of inequality. Picture: John Appleyard

“I could tell you 10, 20 names of who killed my family and friends. I know who did what,” he says. “But now I have my own baby and they have their babies and these children, they had nothing to do with what happened.

“Together we need to build the future for our children.”

These days The Mustard Seed Institute is flourishing.

They have a model farm which is the area’s biggest employer of locals who help grow and harvest crops and then take what they’ve learned home to implement in their own paddocks.

A piggery which started in June with 20 beasts now boasts 200 and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has funded the construction of a vocational training centre due for completion in May.

Ms Sibomana, who will today address the NSW Liberal Women’s Council, says their newest initiative is Baskets of Peace — beautiful handwoven creations which take the artists a week each to complete.

The sale of a single $50 basket, which like all Mustard Seed projects are created by people on both sides of the genocide, will fund an entire term’s schooling for a child.

“We found rather than talking about genocide it was better to bring the people together to work towards a common goal,” she says. “It’s unifying the community.”

The Mustard Seed Institute is looking for stockists in the eastern suburbs to sell the baskets. They would also like to hear from people with expertise in agriculture, water management and web or graphic design.

If you can help contact Ms Sibomana on [e-mail]