African Families Synergy, Inc.

In collaboration with the African Families Synergy and the Connecticut Congolese Community, Charles Tisdal, ABCD's Executive Director and a longtime activist in the black community has invited His Excellency Athena Matenda, Congo Democratic Minister of Finances, to visit the offices of Action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc. in Bridgeport, Connecticut (USA).

The action for Bridgeport Community Development, Inc. (ABC) is a non-governmental organization that work to eradicate poverty in the greater Bridgeport area. The agency was designated the anit-poverty agency for the Greater Bridgeport Area in September of 1964 by the United States Office of Economic Opportunity.

"We are here in Connecticut receptive to new ideas, and will be happy to hear from Ministre Athena Mated, an intelligent and honest leader willing to devote the time and effort necessary to make a difference in Congo": said Mr. Jean Marie Kabemba, a West Haven/Connecticut resident and President of the Congolese association in Connecticut "CODDEV" (Congolese Dynamic for Development).

African Families Synergy believes that His Excellency Ministre Athena Mated will be warmly welcome by thousands of Congolese and Africans living Connecticut State and surround states.

Welcome Ministre Athenase Matenda

Mr. Eddi Konga Masudi and Julie Masudi become Young Ambassadors for Peace

Mr. Eddi Konga Masudi and his beautiful wife Julie Odia Masudi represented the African Families Synergy to the International Youth Leadership Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya from March 18 to March 22, 2009.

Mr. Eddi Masudi, President of MAKO Enterprise, is a young law degree successful Congolese entrepreneur who signed, in 2007 a two-year partnership with the African Families Synergy as a test for a long term project called "Bridge of Peace Enterprise".

His exceptional commitment to peace building convinces the African Families Synergy board of directors, in January 2009, to extend the partnership with MAKO for five more years. Mr. Eddi Masudi, his wife Odia and her sister Bijou Masudi - MAKO's lawyer - are among African Young leaders invited to attend the Dream-Hope for Africa Summit in April 17 - 18, 2009.

Mr. Eddi Masudi who will speak at the summit will also attend the African Families Synergy board meeting on Monday April 20, 2009.
Congratulation and welcome to Dream - Hope for Africa Summit.

Mrs. Evelyne Mukasonga speaks at Southern Connecticut State University

"Can we truly forgive a killer of our family?"

This is the question Mrs. Evelyne Mukasonga, a Rwandan genocide survivor and African Families Synergy Bridge of Peace Program Manager, wants to ask the public to answer.

Death to life
once you have listened to: how her father, mother, and siblings were slaughtered on Friday April 7, 1994 during a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people in 100 days; how she managed to escape and fled to Congo Democratic; her fight to restore what genocide destroyed; and how she did overcome the tragedy and start a new life in United States will be the focus of her speech. A documentary entitled "As we forgive" by Laura Waters Hinson that feature Rwandan genocide survivors face-to-face with killers of their families and the pain of reconciliation will be featured at the end of her speech.

Married to a former Congolese Colonel and mother of two beautiful children, Mrs. Evelyne Mukasonga has a Bachelor degree in Dental Hygiene from University of New Haven. She has dedicated her life to work toward true reconciliation between Congolese and Rwandan. Her catchphrase: "Love is more than wisdom"

Good luck Sister Evelyne and may God Bless your work.