“Hope after the genocide is about acknowledging unspeakable suffering while building a safe place in which people can live without fear, where human relatedness that has been deeply fragmented is being rebuilt, and where the possibility of a shared future can be envisioned. Hope needs to be present in individuals as well as the wider community for a nation to prosper.

 For hope to be a positive influence, the balance between hope and despair must be such that it can sustain the well-being of individuals as well as the development of the community. Despair impairs the person’s ability to vision a positive future and move towards it and, without vision, there is no progress. In this sense, high levels of despair can hinder a nation’s progress.

 Hope is the antidote to despair. When hope is enhanced the momentum towards a better future will grow. People who have hope are more open and capable of seeing a future for themselves and the nation. This in turn is an enhancer if not a prerequisite for reconciliation. In summary, a safe and prosperous future for all people is possible, yet it depends on the strength of hope in the community.”