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Beth Kanter

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Generation Rwanda: Two Stories

May 17, 2012 Filed Under: Leadership


As part of the ACE Leadership Training, we had several site visits to bring some of the real world into our discussions.    The group visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial.   The site was established in 2004 on the 10th Anniversary of the genocide in partnership with the Rwanda Government, Kigali City Council, and Aegis Trust, a charity in the UK dedicated to the prediction, prevention, and ultimately elimination of genocide.   The site operations a Genocide Archive, a Museum, Education and Social programs, and a memorial garden and burial grounds.
The exhibition in the Museum has three main sections.  The main exhibition tells the history of Rwanda leading up to the genocide, what happened, and the aftermath.   It includes personal testimonies, photographs, and artifacts.    Another exhibit looks at past massacres in Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, The Holocaust, and other places of the world where genocide has taken place.   While the exhibit was emotionally wrenching, not to mention disturbing, the most poignant was the children’s memorial that tells the story of innocent child victims of the genocide.

Needless to say, one leaves this memorial site with a profound sense of sadness, horror, and grief.     As our group was leaving the Museum,  I started talking with Favorite and Germaine, two young women who has joined the training for the day.  Both are on full scholarship at the Kigali Health Institute and are supported by nonprofit call “Generation Rwanda” that helps orphans and other socially vulnerable people in Rwanda become leaders and foster economic development and social reconciliation.
These two young people both has personal stories to tell, having been about 5 years old at the time of the genocide and orphaned.     They both are inspiring, hopeful, and determined to make the future of their country a better place.   They wanted to share their stories on my blog and through video and photos.     Here is their stories.

 
Germaine:  A Social Entrepreneur

Germaine will graduate from the Kigali Health Institute with a degree in physical therapy.     She grew up in Kigali and lost her parents and four brothers and sisters in the genocide.  (You can find her story on the Generation Rwanda site).
 

She started a business to sell bags, skirts, and dresses for women.    The business helps her support her remaining siblings and provides money for her transportation, meals, and other school expenses.     The women she hires to make the bags are widows with HIV and have no other way to generate income.   The profits from the business help both Germaine and these other families.Germaine uses her Windows Phone as her virtual store.
Favorite:   On A Mission To Help Children in Rwanda

Favorite is also a student at the Kigali Health Institute and will graduate this year.She was born in the south of Rwanda and the genocide started one month after she turned five years old.  She lost both her father and members of her family to the genocide.    Her mother, who died after the genocide, encouraged her to get an education at the University.    She searched for scholarships and connected with Generation Rwanda where she received a scholarship.  Her vision for the future of her country is young people.  She wants to start a school program and center of excellence for young children and provides programs that help them stay physically and mentally in shape.   She says, if a country’s young people are healthy,  this will build a country that is better for all – and wants to see a future free of genocide.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Germaine Uwabareze says

    May 17, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    Thank you Beth for sharing our stories on your blog.
    Germaine

    Reply
  2. Beth says

    May 17, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Germaine: I’m back home and my daughter loved your skirt and bag and sends her love

    Reply
  3. Meri McCoy-Thompson says

    May 18, 2012 at 7:17 am

    Beth: I am inspired by your whole trip and the stories you are telling from Rwanda. Thanks for all you do.

    Reply
  4. Claire Allen says

    May 18, 2012 at 7:21 am

    Hi Beth – This was a wonderful blog. What progress one can see in the two women you have talked about. Evidence Aid (www.evidenceaid.org) is what we are doing for future humanitarian crises (also for natural disasters). If you have any comments on what we are doing, please do send me your comments.

    Reply
  5. michal morris kamil says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:04 pm

    Inspiring…thank you. just a point of information-already in 1997, representatives, survivors who were senior educators, from Rwanda were guests at Yad Vashem-the Israel authority for the commemoration and Education about the Holocaust, to share and learn.I met these good people and Chairman Avner Shalev, Yohanan Bein and heads of the various departments met with the two representatives to provide support.
    My thanks and best wishes, Michal Morris Kamil, former Managing Editor of the Yad Vashem Magazine, Jerusalem.

    Reply
  6. Favorite says

    May 22, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Thank you Beth!
    I loved our pictures.The blog looks beautiful!
    Send my love to the daughters.

    Reply
  7. Beth says

    May 22, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    Dear Favorite: I have been thinking about you and your story and hope you are doing well!
    Michal – thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Robin says

    June 5, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    I love this post Beth. I shared it around the Firelight office and I’m going to share it on our blog too. We’re excited about your women’s leadership and networking work in Rwanda and looking forward to hearing more.

    Reply
  9. Janae Fuston says

    June 7, 2012 at 7:34 am

    These women are amazing, thank you for sharing their inspirational stories. It really makes one stop and rethink what is important. Do you have more information on the ACE Leadership Training group or information about getting involved?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Young Entrepreneurs Use Social Media To Tell Their Stories says:
    June 6, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    […] this story on Beth’s Blog, where it was originally […]

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