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How Rwanda is shifting from tragedy to growth

Anne-Marie Kantengwa carried a special message to the Women’s Forum 2011 in Deauville, France. The owner of Hotel Chez Lando in Rwanda, Kantengwa understands first-hand how to rise from tragedy and rebuild--personally, professionally, and as a country.

Kantengwa’s brother, Lando Ndasingwa, and his wife built Hotel Chez Lando in the mid-1980s near the country’s international airport; built on a grassy parcel of land, the area is a bustling, commercial hub of Rwanda today.

Seventeen years ago, after tragic losses to the country by genocide, Kantengwa took over the hotel. As the country struggled to shift from tragedy to growth, and rebuild step by step, so did the Hotel Chez Lando. The building was partially destroyed during the nationwide turmoil, but Kantengwa worked to restore the 32-room hotel and has recently expanded Hotel Chez Lando to 82 rooms. In the words of the owner, the hotel “brings past and future closer up to the juncture where remnants of old bricks and new ones embrace.”

This transitional feeling of past meeting present is felt nationwide, and the country is looking toward a bright future. Kantengwa says Rwanda is a beautiful place, and she encourages visitors to come and learn first-hand how the country and its people have been empowered to work and recover their dignity.

Visit Hotel Chez Lando online at chezlando.com/.

 

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Passionately Pink AA Planes for Komen Race for the Cure

October is Pink Everywhere with Passion for the Cure including on American Airline's planes.

 

October is a month that we see signs of hope in the support for Breast Cancer research and resource including many walk for the Cure.  My son Ben and I went to see the unveiling of American's visible support of the cause with their "pink" ribbon on several planes in their fleet along with their commitment of research funding support by AA and their partners.   Pictured here is left to right Hala Moddelmog, CEO and Cancer Survivor Susan G. Komen, Ben and Mom.  For Ben who agreed to wear a pink shirt (his 16 year old brother had picked out for him earlier in the year coaching him that you are cooler as a male to be able to wear pink) he saw a visible sign of support by a company and their people and planes.  Ben saw a large group of American employees, including flight attendants, pilots, gate agents and men and women employees--wearing pink and showing support for this cause. 

Mom in the Moment.  As a mom I found myself emotionally realizing that it is when you take the time to go be in the moment for the cause with your child that you have much more impact then talking about a key event you were at that day while on your own.  I was so glad as I was there with Ben--hearing a beneficiary of the research and survivor, learning from a MD and their focus, and a son, Ricardo Chivaro of Desperate Housewives, who reflected on his mom being impacted by cancer and the impact it had on him as a youth--that we were there that day.

October and Purpose with Passion and 25th Anniversary.  As some of us walk, some of us give, some of us read and learn, the different activities around purpose reminds us to give forward to a cause.  Also as women this is a time to focus on detection, testing, and donating to Komen or donating to causes around us that we want to see impact for women in our local community, in our country, and globally.  Learn More on the Race for the Cure