Network for Africa – Our Story So Far
How can you not want to offer a helping hand to a survivor of conflict who is already trying so hard to overcome the challenges they face?
That simple question sparked the beginning of Network for Africa. After visiting Rwanda for the first time in 2004, Rebecca Tinsley realised that simply being informed about genocide wasn’t enough. The resilient and resourceful survivors she met deserved more than awareness – they needed practical support to rebuild their lives and communities.
In 2007, she founded Network for Africa to support trusted Rwandan organisations offering education, training, and healthcare to genocide orphans and widows. From the beginning, the mission was clear: to empower local people to transform their lives – not through quick fixes, but through long-term support and training that builds confidence, skills, and lasting resilience.
Survivors told us what they needed: education, training, and mental health support to overcome trauma and take back control of their lives. We listened. And we acted.
Local Knowledge, Lasting Impact
We believe that those closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions. Our work centres on providing the tools that survivors need to break the cycle of poverty and psychological trauma. Time and again, this means working with women – the true agents of change in societies where they are often denied equal status or opportunity.
What began in Rwanda soon expanded to northern Uganda, where a 22-year conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan army left entire communities traumatised and hopeless. Survivors there told us they were paralysed by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and once again, we listened.
In 2008, we launched our first trauma counselling training programme in Uganda. With generous support from the Baring Foundation and John Ellerman Foundation, we established our first dedicated community mental health programme. We trained a team of local counsellors who now reach thousands of traumatised individuals through group and one-on-one sessions. These counsellors also collaborate with psychiatric nurses, supporting people with PTSD and those newly diagnosed with HIV.
Expanding Our Reach
In 2022, we celebrated 15 years as a registered charity. Our work now spans Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Sierra Leone, but the principle remains the same: listen to survivors, understand what they need, and provide the tools to help them thrive.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters – those who have donated their time, resources, and faith – our projects have transformed countless lives. And yet, we are only just beginning.
View Our History At A Glance