Updates from members of the Liquidnet Family as they visit the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda
Driving around the country side in Rwanda you frequently come across scores of men dressed in pink outfits. You see them everywhere. They’re typically working in the fields. My first thought was this was an interesting fashion statement or that someone had mixed colors with whites in the great Rwandan washing machine. It turns out that these men are in fact prisoners. Prisoners from the genocide. Genociders. Murderers. The “guilty.” In other words, people who have confessed to playing a firsthand in the slaughter of around a million Tutsis in 1994. What is mind-boggling to me is how the Rwandan genocide literally resulted in a vast segment of the population embracing the role of murderer. Students killed their teachers. Neighbors killed neighbors. Friends turned on their friends’ families – killing their friends, their friend’s wives, and their kids. No one was spared. The fact is that 99.9% of Rwandans were either victims of the genocide, were first hand witnesses to the brutal murders, or participated. What is as incredible to me is the fact that today Rwandans get to regularly interact with those who committed these terrible crimes. A neighbor who killed one’s wife and kids is still the neighbor who you walk by every day. Life just goes one…
Back in the US, the sights and sounds of Rwanda now seem so far away. On the 20 hour trip back, I had some time to make conclusions on the trip.
- Rwanda and its people have so much potential. The government is poised to support the nation’s growth plan (20-20 vision). There’s economic growth and a rising level of education among its citizens. It’s a strong foundation for what the village will accomplish.
- There’s a huge need for the ASYV. The economic environment in Rwanda, the growing population and the years of indoctrination of ethnic hatred create a precarious position in Rwanda. Looking ahead, if there were economic troubles in Rwanda, I could see the potential for a rising tide of civil violence – unless something is done now. This is obviously where ASYV comes in.
- The ASYV model is a great fit for Rwanda. The existing community structure with its tight knit groups and local leaders is a perfect place for ASYV graduates to return to have their impact felt. ASYV supports the local couture by involving Rwandans as much as possible in all aspects.
- Although the country is functioning, it still hasn’t healed. Based on visits to memorial sites and discussions with Rwandans, the impact of the genocide runs deep in Rwanda.
- This trip was an amazing first-hand experience of Rwanda and the ASYV. It was great to witness how so many people are working to make a positive impact on the world. Inspiring!
On Friday, our last day here, we went to the Kigali Genocide Museum. The museum provides a global perspective of Genocides - Holocaust, Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda. The museum has around 250,000 Rwandans resting in peace. These bodies were discovered all over Rwanda and brought to rest here. It is a world class museum that touches every heart – regardless of where you are from.
There was one room dedicated to the children who died during the Genocide. It had pictures of the kids, their favorite sport, food, what they enjoyed the most and how they were killed….this was the most difficult room.
The day ended on an upbeat. We visited an orphanage run by genocide survivors. Both of them have dedicated their lives to build a community for the kids – provide them with education, social hangout, and medical care. They have become small business owner now with a bread factory in their backyard!! They supply bread to the local bakeries and restaurants and are being self sufficient now.
The kids at the orphanage were such a delight…they were so excited to see us and get all the treats from us – tennis balls, books, crayons etc. The smiles on their faces were priceless…..here are some pictures so you can enjoy them too..
Rwanda is truly the land of 1000 hills. Each hill is a village, complete with its own leader, main “street” and special characteristics.
Yesterday, the view from the top of one hill was breathtaking — and ironic, as perched on it was a genocide memorial site. The memorial was the actual site of the killing of 50,000 Rwandans in 1994. The Tutsi people had gathered at the school there, seeking safely in numbers from the killings going on in the hills around them. Tragically, they did not find safely and most of them were killed and buried in mass graves at the site.
The key to preventing future genocides is in remembering and learning from the past. In line with this, the bodies of hundreds of the Tutsis murdered at the site are preserved and on display. Walking from room to room I could hardly breathe. Just like the victims, there were bodies of adults, children, babies. Some showed evidence of how there were murdered. There was one room filled with skulls.
At the final room, I looked to my right toward the neighboring village, and there was a small boy standing 20 feet away, waving, smiling at us.
The hope for Rwanda is in its youth. Through education and counseling, it’s obvious that the country can not only heal itself, but can flourish. The hope for Rwanda is in the ASYV. We toured that site today, perched atop another hill, and the feeling was electric. We walked through the homes that will provide comfort and a home base for the orphans of the genocide. Every detail has been so well thought out. It is – and will be – and amazing place; for Rwanda and for the world.
We spent Thursday morning visiting the ASYV. I was filled with anticipation on the bus ride to the village. Finally, here we were on our way to see the fruit of our labor. I was curious, too, about the progress of the construction.
During the bus ride, Anne, Sifa, Alaine, and Jean-Pierre spoke of the hope and expectations they had of the village. What was most powerful for me was to hear Sifa, Alaine and Jean-Pierre speak of their belief in the village; in the success and hope they were placing on the Village to produce the future leaders of Rwanda. Here were local Rwandans who truly believed that the Village would be effective in taking orphans with no future and turning them into contributing members of society. As impressive as seeing the progress of the Village, interacting with the local staff of the ASYV strengthened my belief in the Village’s cause. It reminded me of when we were starting up Liquidnet years ago. Seth had such a great vision of the company and the potential we had to offer our members. Having the traders, the people who were going to benefit from our system believe in us contributed greatly in our success. And now, hearing the heartening responses from the Rwandans, I couldn’t help but draw the parallel between the two.
Yesterday was a very moving day in terms of emotions. I hugged a man who lost his five children and wife during the genocide at a memorial for the victims. I saw poverty I only imagined in my worst night mares. Today however was the dawn of a new day-I visited ASYV. I saw before the hope of the country a shining jewel on the mountain viewing one woman’s dream that has become a reality for all who helped build it. The village is so much more than I could have imagined. I saw the 32 children’s homes where children will sleep and be loved. I pictured the hopelessness of yesterday and it vanished.
