'We have a strong hope because of the ladies of the country'

Mrs Kayirere, 51, is the founder of Avega East, which has been funded by Cafod. Today it has more than 4,000 members and works with women who have lost husbands, children and in some cases their whole family. Many of the survivors were also beaten and sexually assaulted in a land where rape was used as a weapon of war.

They have since benefited from Avega's flagship psycho-social counselling programme, as well as well as basic legal training to make sure they know their land and property rights. Eighty women have been trained as paralegals, meaning they can offer advice on legal cases and even argue in court.

The success of Avega East, and Odette's own story – her own husband, a head teacher, was murdered in the genocide – meant she won an award for women's creativity in rural life from the Women's World Summit Foundation last year. The prize earned her worldwide attention, as well as a slot on Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

Now Mrs Kayirere places her hope for Rwanda in the women she has helped at Avega East. "I started this to mobilise women to talk about their problems. Now we have a strong hope for the future because of the ladies of the country. They are a community and love their people."