Rwandan Genocide Widow to Help Women Truly Forgive

The challenge to forgive is the focus of this year's Reality, the annual event for women from charity, Care for the Family.

Guest speaker, Lesley Bilinda whose husband Charles was one of the victims of the Rwandan genocide will explore what it means to truly forgive at the event in Craigavon, Derry/Londonderry and Ballymena in Northern Ireland this November.

Her story was the subject of the acclaimed documentary 'Hunting My Husband's Killers' and during the evening event she will speak about how she met the men who may have been involved in the murder of Charles and faced head on the challenge to forgive.

Bilinda knows, from her own personal experience, that whilst being willing to forgive is extremely difficult, it is possible.

She said: "I've wrestled long and hard over the past decade with issues of forgiveness and reconciliation. It's easy to talk about forgiveness, but much harder to put it into practice."

Care for the Family's 'Reality: The Challenge of Forgiveness' events will help hurting women explore whether forgiveness is a choice or an emotion, how to make reconciliation possible, overcoming personal betrayal and experiencing forgiveness.

As Bilinda offers insights into the power of forgiveness, she will be joined by guest vocalist, Susie Young, and her husband, Paul Campbell, who will continue to explore the theme of forgiveness through music and song.

Jean Gibson, Care for the Family's Northern Ireland Manager, is hosting Reality again this year.

She said: "I am delighted that Lesley, Susie and Paul can join us this year for Reality. It will be a powerful and encouraging evening for women which will challenge any pre-conceived ideas we may have had about forgiveness. I truly hope it will be powerful and encouraging time for everyone."

For more information about Reality: The Challenge of Forgiveness visit www.careforthefamily.org.uk/reality