Amazing Kids!

So while we have been here in Rwanda we have had the opportunity to meet some amazing individuals. People who are inspirational, dedicated, hardworking and caring. We have also met some great kids at the Youth Clubs throughout Rwanda but one group stands out in particular. A group who we have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting with numerous times. In our second visit to the club, a couple of weeks ago, the kids informed us of an idea that they came up with entirely on their own to create a Never Again Magazine. The goal of the magazine would be to spread their message of equality, help them to fight against genocide ideology, and spread awareness to human rights. Their goal in creating the magazine is to have their message reach a larger audience, as opposed to just the students in their school and the people in their local communities. They want the magazine to be distributed throughout all of Rwanda. But they don't want to stop there. They hope the magazine can be distributed throughout the world and they want people from all over to contribute to it. They feel as though if people can learn about these issues, it can help prevent future atrocities, specifically genocide, from occurring (as well as other violations of human rights). The students spoke about the recent violence in Kenya surrounding the elections and viewed it as genocidal since specific tribes were the target of the violence.

The next time we visited, the kids showed us a magazine that they created called The Guide, a newsletter in which they cover all sorts of issues from health, politics, sports, gossip etc. The magazine was so well written and laid out, we were very impressed by their work. Since we want to help these kids we asked them if we could borrow the magazine, make some copies and bring it back to them, so we could have something to show people back home. They said it was their only copy of the magazine and couldn't lend it to us that day but we could come back another day and borrow it. When we asked why it was their only copy they said it was because it cost them nearly $30 to create the 27 page color magazine, which was just printed on regular paper. Because they do not have printing supplies at their school they had to create the magazine and go to an outside printer to have it printed, which is very expensive here in Rwanda. We asked them if they could just e-mail us a copy. They were not able to do this either because they had to borrow an administrator's flash drive to save the magazine and they deleted it soon after. So all their hard work was limited to creating one copy of the magazine. Another magazine/newspaper that their school puts out (which is also completely created by the students) addresses a lot of social issues and was also well written and well illustrated. This magazine is done completely by hand and posted on a board at the school so students can stop by and read it.

The only thing that is standing in these kids way from making these magazines great and widely distrusted is lack of resources. They have four computers for 950 students and no ability to save their work. They had to borrow a camera to take the photos that were included in the magazine, had numerous ideas for cartoons but were unable to include them because they do not have a scanner. Because they do not have printers, they could not print the magazine at their school but had to go outside to have it printed.

The idea for a never again magazine is a great one and we wanted to help them in any way we could in order to help them put their ideas into action.

Through donations and a little of our own money we were able to buy the kids a computer and a printer/scanner combo. We brought them to the kids and helped them set everything up, they were SO grateful.
The best part about these kids, they never once asked us to give them things. We were able to talk with them and we were the ones who said we would love to help you and we will try our best. They were so happy to hear this but were unsure if it was just more empty promises. Once they saw we were committed to them, and kept visiting, they still were not asking for anything, just for our support and encouragement.

While we have helped them a little by providing them the tools they need to create the magazine but we do not want to stop here. When we get back to the states, on WEDNESDAY which is extremely sad, because we do not want to leave, we plan to try and figure out a way to get them more support. We also are going to try and set up partnerships with the students here in Rwanda and kids in America so they can work together, share ideas, collaborate on projects and support one another.

So while we will definitely be talking with all of you when we are back in the states, we figured we would take some time to warn you of our plans so you can prepare yourselves to help us. Some of the things we will be needing are:

• donations of technology - old cameras, computers, laptops, flash drives, recording equipment, printers, ink, etc.
  
• donations of money - in order to purchase items in Rwanda as well as to pay for shipping costs from the US to Rwanda
• donations of time - any one who is willing to help us with anything is much appreciated and we will definitely need all the help we can get
• ideas - ideas of any kind (as long as they are constructive) is always helpful and we appreciate any advice

We are hoping to establish a 501(c)3 org in the states as to better be able to receive donations and funds and have a more legitimate means of funneling things to Rwanda and other places as well as having legitimacy to operate in the US.

Ok so that is my rant for now.

See you all soon.

Great Opinion Article in a Rwandan Newspaper

This is a great opinion article written by a Rwandan which encapsulates the feeling of this country.
Very inspirational and well written...

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13633&article=8971

It's been awhile...

We've been so busy cramming everything in to our last 2 weeks that we haven't written in awhile! Plus, we didn't think anyone was really reading but we've gotten complaints that people are bored at work without new blog posts (coughcoughjoesims).

We went the other night to visit with a youth club that we'd visited with before, and left feeling inspired. I didn't really want to go at first- I've been feeling unsure about the effectiveness about our book, and with only a few weeks left, I didn't know if we'd have time to change everything we're doing if that's what it seemed like the kids wanted. These kids were incredible though. We ended up having really good discussions/debates with them (they have better English than most people we've encountered in the country, and they're only 18 years old!), on everything from religion to homosexuality to HIV. It's interesting to hear youths' perspectives, especially when they come from such different circumstances than we do. Mike is inspired to attempt to start a penpal program between them and kids in the US, and also hoping to help them raise money for their projects. They unselfishly want things like a PA system to help them with their presentations and educating others, and a computer to create a newsletter for all the youth clubs around the country (their school has 10 computers for 900 children). We ended the night with them telling Mike he had a funny face and could he do something goofy to make them laugh. He didn't think that was very nice. I thought it was hilarious. :)

Today we went with Selemon to the market so that we could take some pictures; he had to translate to everyone not to be scared of the Muzungus and to ask them all if they wanted their picture. Some people were sooo eager and begging to have their picture taken (although when the camera was on them they would look away and not smile.. not sure if they were trying to do a fake candid shot or what), and other people insistantly said no and covered their faces and even looked angry. It sucks, because we really wanted to get some candid shots of the whole market because it's so unlike anything we have back home, but completely understandable. We don't want to seem like their lifestyles are a spectacle and to be intrusive.

This weekend we'll be going to see a village of orphans with Julius, one of the Never Again employees. It should be interesting, and finally gives us a chance to give out all the clothing and toy donations we got before we came. Pictures to follow :)

Other than that, life is the same! Counting down the days till I can take a long, hot shower, straighten my hair and put on some make-up... Our first weeks back will be crazy busy though- visiting my parents for a week, going to New Jersey to ride ATVs, Mike's roommate's wedding, not to mention applying (and hopefully interviewing) for jobs! There's always room to see more people though, so definitely get in touch with us to make plans.

Miss you all!
xoxo

Selemon

Here is a picture of Selemon at our office. Thank you again everyone :)

Creepy Crawlies/T.I.A.

We just got in to work, and Solomon was mopping the floors. Then I heard him say "scorpion," and I look down and sure enough, there's a scorpion. But it was the tiniest thing I've ever seen- maybe half an inch to an inch in length. I don't understand how the scorpions and snakes in Kigali are sooo small, but the spiders are soooo big!

Makes me wonder if there's a mama scorpion hiding out somewhere...

Things we miss... and things we will miss

We're down to our last few weeks in Rwanda, and i think we are both actually starting to feel a little homesick... ironic for me, who doesn't even really know where "home" is, but whatever. So we've started making lists of things to do when we're back home. For anyone who's in the NY area and is feeling hungry, we have a comprehensive list of meals to cook since this sitting-on-the-ground-while-cooking-on-one-small-burner-with-pans-that-everything-sticks-to thing has gotten really old. Plus a lot of the food that I want to cook, Mike doesn't like, so I'll really need dining buddies.

Next, we have a multiple-page list of restaurants that we want to eat at immediately upon our return. There are more than 60 places to eat on this list. Can you tell that we really miss food?

There are some things we'll really miss from here, though. For starters, people are sooo friendly everywhere you go. Not sure where a specific restaurant is? Ask someone and they will personally walk you to it. We've also just made friends with the woman we usually buy for at the local outdoor produce market- she helps us with our Kinyarwanda, although we're not sure of half of what she says, we just repeat after her. Yesterday when we were there, we asked if she had lemons, to which she replied no but then yelled out what we're assuming was the equivalent of "Does anyone here have any lemons for the muzungus to buy?!"

The children here seem to be cuter than any kids I've ever seen anywhere, and I'll really miss seeing them around. Since parents here aren't as overprotective as parents in the States, you see groups of kids walking all over town together, talking to strangers, etc., and I'm really going to miss seeing so many kids all the time- you just don't see groups of little kids playing like that on the streets of New York. There's one little girl in particular who we used to see everyday when we left our house; we're convinced she had a radar for us, because she'd be nowhere to be found when suddenly we'd hear "Byeee!! Muzungu byeee!!" which seemed to be the only phrase she knew, and when we'd turn around to wave she'd let out the cutest giggle I've ever heard in my life. Sadly, we haven't seen her since we've returned from Tanzania, so I hope she's ok. There's another boy, Fabrice, who lives nearby as well. When he sees us he freezes in the middle of whatever he's doing, then runs over to hug us, only stopping as he collides into our legs- if he was any bigger, he'd knock me over. He then follows us to our gate and watches as we go inside. It doesn't matter how many times he sees us in a day, we always get a hug from him.

This was kind of a waste of a post, I just needed a distraction from working on our human rights book. :) xoxo

Genocide really did happen here...

Even though we came here to experience life in a post-conflict, post-genocide society, it's really easy to forget about what happened. Before we came, we had visions of bodies lying in pieces along the road and in the gutters; what we see are some of the cleanest streets in the world. We imagined animosity and tension among neighbors, whose families killed and were killed by each other; we see people holding hands, laughing, rarely looking angry. I've been reading the memoirs of L.Gen. Romeo Dallaire, the UN Force Commander for the mission for Rwanda during the genocide, but it all seems surreal because Rwanda is so different, so much more peaceful now than it was then. But the past few days have really brought to life Rwanda's history...

Two nights ago we decided to watch the PBS Frontline special, "Ghosts of Rwanda." If you're interested in learning more about the genocide here, it was an amazing documentary. But warning: it was extremely graphic. There is actual footage of people machete-ing each other, just hacking away. You see corpses piled on the streets, including those of babies. You see churches full of bodies, so much so that you can't even see the floor. It's all evidence recorded by journalists, which was constantly being sent back to the United Nations and the United States, both of whom chose to ignore or not believe the severity of what was occurring. Here was the lowest possible form of human behavior, and these politicians who are supposed to protect the lives and human rights of all people ofthe world are choosing to turn away. It's absoutely disgusting how we, as Americans and westerners, prioritize some lives over others. Apparently 800,000-1,000,000 innocent Rwandans (a large part of them completely innocent and defenseless children) was not worth sending as few as 5,000 well-armed soldiers. That was all it would have taken to stop the massacre. I was nauseous the whole time watching the movie, and for the rest of the night. Needless to say, neither Mike nor I got a good night's sleep.

The weirdest part of watching the film was being able to point to different scenes and say, "That's right up the road from here," or, "We pass that every day to work." Kigali was the center of all of the planning and the majority of the killing, which includes our small neighborhood of predominantly low-income civilians. We can't help but wonder what crimes occurred in our neighborhood, on our street, and even in our home. If walls could talk...

We decided to go to the Kigali Genocide Memorial the next morning before work, which we shamefully hadn't done in our first two months of being here. It ominously rained all morning, too (it's not even rainy season). Anyway, the museum took us a few hours to get through, but it is an unbelievable place. There's footage of survivors talking, most of them around our age. There's lots of history, explaining what led to the genocide, going as far back as the first German colonisers in the 1800's. I still blame all of Africa's problems entirely on colonization. Then you get to the graphic pictures of the slaughters, which provoked a few tears but I was surprisingly able to hold it togetherthe whole time. You see the perpetrators, who are now being tried at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. There's a section displaying the skulls of many victims, many of which have holes in them, some of which are completely in half. There's an entire section devoted to some children who were killed, describing their personalities, likes and dislikes, and then explaining their gruesome deaths. Outside of the museum, there are amazing gardens surrounding mass graves. I'm not sure how many bodies are buried there, but there are easily hundreds of thousands. We came upon a family laying flowers on one of the graves and crying, and politely turned away so as not to intrude on their private moment, but wow. These people problem have family members who are buried right there.

As depressing as those days were, I think we needed that experience to humble us. It really brought us back to why we are here, doing the work that we are doing. And it really makes you admire the people here, who are able to present themselves so strongly.