Ideas in Action!

Well, a month has come and gone. My program with GYC ends today and I am out to create my own adventure! During our time in the delegation, we filled our heads with knowledge, our minds with experience, and our heats with compassion. We are a now buzzing with how to put action to behind our thoughts. My fellow delegates look at the world with realistic optimism; I was inspired and humbled by them. I want to share with you all some of our action plans!

• Delegates are working with a Rwandan NGO called Amahoro Great Lakes to create a sister school program between Rwandan school and American schools. The idea is that we will use curricular information about Rwanda in American schools to raise awareness and to connect youth from both countries. We hope that youth in America will take interest in helping to raise funds for the impoverished Rwandan schools and that American youth will additionally work to generate a greater understanding about human rights around the world.
• Another related project idea is looking to raise funds for a scholarship program to help send qualified Rwandans to university. We would also like to extend this fundraising project to an orphan population with whom we all fell in love. Uyisenga N'Manziis a village for orphans of the genocide or HIV/Aids. It is distinctly different from an orphanage in the sense that the individuals become the heads of their households and learn autonomous living (I was impressed and slightly embarrassed as I thought of my recent return to living at home as an "adult"). We hope to help sponsor some of these orphans through school.
• A pressing issue in Rwanda is a high illiteracy rate. Illiteracy and ignorance played a destructive role in allowing the genocide propaganda to spread quickly and effectively. Fight Illiteracy Youth Organization is committed to promoting literacy and cultivating critical thinking. Yet, due to a lack of funding FIYO has had to close down eight of their literacy centers in the past year. Last year's GYC delegation put together a documentary on FIYO's work and this year we are hoping to hold screenings across America to help raise funds to keep the literacy centers up and running. It is estimated the $12.50USD will put a student through an eight month literacy course. Oh, and did I mention that FIYO also provides it's students with vocational skills like the fuel efficient stoves I mentioned in a previous blog entry!
• Some of us are teaming up to write a curriculum on peace and reconciliation for high school/middle school students. This idea was inspired by an innovative organization, Radio LaBenevolencia, which uses a radio soap opera to talk about pre and post genocide Rwanda. LaBenevolencia is sponsored by the psychology department at Yale University and is based strongly on the principles presented in a book called, "Roots of Evil" by Ervin Staow(sp?). I love the idea of using drama and fiction to discuss human conflict, even basic conflict between adolescents in the hallways of American schools.

Well, a lot of ideas. I am glad that I still have some time in Rwanda! I invite ideas, comments and a critical analysis of our proposals. Many of them are focused on fundraising, unfortunately, but we are really trying to promote education and to cultivate awareness.

Maramutzi (Good Night)