The Emmanuel Community was born in Kigali (Rwanda) in September 1990. It was founded by a Rwandan couple, Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba. For several years already. volunteers of  Fidesco worked in the dispensaries in the region of Butare, the university town in the South of the country. It was through contacts with Fidesco that the Rugambas discovered Emmanuel.

Cyprien and Daphrose Mugamba

The Emmanuel Community began to grow from the prayer groups in Kigali. Very soon centres were born at Butare and later at Rhuhango. From the beginning numerous apostolic activities were launched: street evangellisation; cycles of Love and Truth; activities for youth; and a service catering for street children, which led to the creation of FIDESCO RWANDA.

Between 1990 and 1994, the Rugambas' priority was the community, spiritual and human formation of the brothers and sisters. They needed to be strengthened in their call, because war was raging for four years and it exacerbated ethnic and regional divisions. The birth of the Community at this particularly troubled time seems to have been a call to be prophetic witnesses of the fraternity, which unites people, children of God, beyond the ties of blood.

In April 1994 the terrible genocide broke out that everyone knows about. The Community at that moment consisted of 120 members. From the first day, 7 April, Cyprien and Daphrose as well as 6 of their 10 children were killed. Several members of the Emmanuel Community were also assassinated, witnessing to God right to the end. Among them were Froduald and Philomène de Ruhango who died singing the Magnificat, after having prayed the rosary of mercy for their assassins. Their mortal remains were discovered intact after remaining in the ground for 6 months...

The war touched everybody in one way or another. All the members of the Community were scattered, some in the interior of Rwanda, others as exiles in neighbouring countries. But everywhere, even in the most difficult circumstances,they continued to testify to the love of God. 

Today the Community has nearly 600 members spread over 7 of the 9 dioceses in Rwanda. All states of life are present: 12 consecrated sisters, 2 consecrated brothers, 3 priests, families and singles. 

Apostolic acitivities are numerous and flourishing. Here are some of them :
17 Prayer Groups with at least 4,000 participants every week 
Love and Truth :
• about 30 cycles for couples have been organised since 1992, touching 5,000 people.
• Since 1998, week-ends for single parents have touched more than 3,000 people.
• A session for families has been organised in Kigali since 2006.
• Meetings of marriage preparation has been organised with the parishes.
Activities for young people 
• prayer groups
• retreats for students preparing to go to university
• pilgrimages, the most famous of which is that to Kibeho (the place of Marian apparitions recognized by the Church since 2001)

• Since 2001, a Youth Forum has assembled every year between 4,000 and 5,000 young people coming from all over the country and from neighbouring countries.
• Since 1998, a school of evangelisation has been formed in Kigali, in the Emmanuel Centre. It takes place at weekends. Very soon a second school was launched at the Merciful Jesus Centre in Ruhango. These schools welcome between 45 and 50 students every year.
• In 2005, there began the 'change of behavioural view' service, notably for the prevention of AIDS.
Parish Missions
These began in 1997 and have been held in about 20 parishes. They touch thousands of people in the markets, clubs, hospitals, prisons, families, the stadium, in union with other Christians of other denominations... To give an example, among others, the mission at Gitarama led to the celebration of 400 religious marriages !
Compassion
• Since 1994, the  Centre of Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba has been open. It welcomes street children, trains them and tries in every way possible to re-integrate them with their families. This centre is inspired by the charism of Campassion in the Emmanuel Community. 

Heart of Jesus Chapel, Emmanuel Centre  

• The direction of the Merciful Jesus Centre has been entrusted to the Pallottine Fathers and its spiritual animation to the Emmanuel Community by the bishops of Kabgayi. It is a place where the charism of the Community is manifested in an astonishing way through Perpetual Adoration and welcoming people who are suffering. Every first Sunday of the month more than 10,000 people come to participate in prayer for the sick during which there are numerous instances of inner and physical healing.