 Founder and Executive Director of CARSA*, Christian Action for Reconciliation and Social Action:
Christophe was born to Rwandese parents in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first of seven children, in 1974. At age twelve, finishing primary school, he started helping his parents in order to survive the difficulties of living in exile. Returning to Rwanda in 1995, he was shocked to see the effects of the 1994 genocide which killed about one million people. After hearing many of these shocking stories, he became Christian in 1998. In Rwanda he continued his studies, married Diana Kantarama in 2007 and is now the father of two children.
Graduating from Kigali Independent University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Christophe has received training and attended workshops in trauma healing, reconciliation, counseling and healing on both personal and national levels.
He is currently youth leader and head of evangelism in his church; founder and director of CARSA; chairman of a Christian Reconciliation Forum involved in the Great Lakes Region (Rwanda, Burundi and DRC); coordinator of Rwanda mu Mateka Mashya (Rwanda a New Era), an initiative of all denominations of the church of Jesus Christ in Rwanda, and member of their executive committee.
He also facilitates seminars on trauma healing and reconciliation within secondary schools, universities, churches and in the community, has organized and facilitated a conference on reconciliation in Burundi, organized a second conference on reconciliation in DRC/ Goma, and facilitated seminars with students, soldiers and pastors.
Christophe has spoken at several conferences in Rwanda especially during the Week of Mourning. He also speaks at various universities and churches on reconciliation.
*CARSA - Christian Action for Reconciliation & Social Assistance is a Rwandan Christian non-profit organisation that was created to promote healing, forgiveness and reconciliation throughout the world. Along with these goals, it seeks to address the social needs of the families and communities it serves, fostering cooperation and collaboration with other institutions working for these same causes.
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