Global Youth Connect: Human Rights Delegation to Rwanda

I was officially accepted to attend Global Youth Connect’s Rwanda Delegation from August 1-23, 2012.

Global Youth Connect (GYC), founded in 1999 by international youth leaders, is a non-profit organization that aims to “empower young activists from around the globe through a combination of cross cultural human rights learning workshops, volunteer service, and sustained human rights activism aligned with grassroots NGOs, policy makers, and other stakeholders” (Global Youth Connect, http://www.globalyouthconnect.org).

They organize delegations all of the world, but Rwanda particularly caught my attention.

Why Rwanda? I suppose many would raise their eyebrows at the idea of going to Rwanda and I bet most people’s initial reactions are of fear and horror. Some don't even know where it is. For example, I called Bank of America recently to set my security settings before the trip and the staff questioned me whether Rwanda was in Africa.

Rwanda is one of those places that touches my heart and my desire to go there has not only been about seeing the gorillas but also to learn from humankind’s own failures. I studied Rwanda and the genocide during my master’s program and I am deeply interested in post-genocide nations as a whole. Even walking the streets of Prague, I am reminded of the horrific events of the 20th century in Europe. When I think of going to Rwanda, I get a lump in my throat. It is so much more to experience a place and its people, rather than reading about them in a textbook or on the news. I will be meeting survivors who have lived through one of humankind's most grotesque atrocities. More than 800,000 people were brutally and systematically murdered over the course of a couple of months. I am going to hear their stories.I am going with an open mind and an open heart.

The GYC program encompasses everything that I want to experience. The description of what I will be doing is below:

International participants will join with Rwandan peers in a Learning and Action Community to learn about human rights achievements and challenges in Rwanda (and the world) and to take concrete action steps together to support current and future efforts for human rights protection and promotion, both in Rwanda and abroad. Through a combination of workshops, site visits, advocacy meetings, and volunteer service with grassroots NGOs, we will learn and act on numerous key human rights issues in Rwanda, including but not limited to: gender and human rights, human rights of children, LGBTI populations, historically marginalized indigenous groups, refugees, domestic workers, poverty reduction, public health, juvenile justice, freedom of expression and the arts.

In advance of and during the delegation, all participants will examine the roots of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and see how its legacy has impacted the country and its people, particularly Rwandan youth, and also how the country is attempting to rebuild today (Global Youth Connect, http://www.globalyouthconnect.org)

I feel privileged to be a part of this opportunity and I hope that my participation will do some “good” in this world of chaos.

Click of a Button: Journey to Rwanda

Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills

The spring semester finally ended and my life seemed to be a bit calmer now. It was time to start planning my summer vacation. After my travels to Thailand, I knew I wanted to go to Africa next, but I wanted my next trip to be more meaningful, more educational.

I found myself on the internet doing countless searches of volunteer work in Africa. With this, I also read numerous articles on corruption or poor company practices of “voluntourism.” When the possibilities are endless, searching for a program can be exhausting.  Then, I came across Global Youth Connect, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a learning and action community of young people on raising awareness of human rights issues. As I was perusing their website, I my eyes immediately went to the text, “still accepting applications.” It was for a human rights delegation in Rwanda.

I have always wanted to go to Rwanda. My first fascination with Rwanda began at a young age. Most girls daydream about being princesses, ballerinas, and even models. As a child, I dreamed of being a primatologist working with gorillas and living in Africa.  Yes, I was allowed to watch Gorillas in the Mist in my youth. My second desire to go to Rwanda is because of my strong interest in Holocaust studies and my interest in humanity. Much of my past has focused on addressing questions of why do events like this happen, why do they continue to offer, and are we humans ever going to evolve?

After I read about the program description, I e-mailed the director for more information and to inquire if it is still possible to apply. I received a friendly reply offering me the opportunity to still apply. So, I gathered my materials and sent it off the next day. In the meantime, I kept thinking to myself, that I didn’t really just apply. I mean, who goes to Rwanda?

The following day, I received an email from the director to set up a phone interview. Nervously, I accepted. I had my interview on a Friday evening and what I thought would last 20 minutes last almost an hour. It turns out that I do well in phone interviews and being passionate about the subject matter helps. I felt very positive after the conversation.

The next morning, I woke up to a “congrats” letter welcoming me to the program. Was this really happening? Will I really be traveling to Kigali this August? A million thoughts raced through my mind. I had one week to decide and after thorough research and speaking with my family, it was time to take my life to the next level. I chose to attend and I chose to change my life.

It’s amazing that we live in a world today where opportunities are endless and vast. By a click of a button, I found this Rwandan program. I never thought that I would be going to Rwanda to participate in a human rights delegation with young leaders, just as eager as I to learn and to make the world we live in a better place.

I will be going to Kigali from August 1-29, 2012 and I will celebrate my birthday in the Land of a Thousand Hills. 

Peace, Love, and Yoga: A Special Thank You

The path to peace begins with an open heart. Thank you to those who supported last night's event, Stories from the Mat: From Rwanda to Yoga. It was a special evening of yoga, dialogue, community, and connection. I'm honored to have shared my story of living in Rwanda and how it inspired me to be a yoga teacher. Thank you for opening your hearts.

All proceeds raised will benefit 500 orphaned teens at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi (1994). Agahozo-Shalom is a residential living and learning community located an hour outside of Kigali. It is transforming traumatized children into the next generation of ethical leaders.

Thank you Lululemon Miami for the generous mat donation. The mat was given away to a local teacher-trainee, Rebecca Lester. I have no doubt she will be a positive force in the Miami yoga community and the rest of the world. A special thank you to FloYo Coral Gables for allowing me to host the event.

LEARN MORE

If you're interested in learning more about Agahozo-Shalom and the work they do, please visit their website.

HOW TO DONATE

If you were unable to attend and would still like to contribute, please click here.

Thank you again. Murakoze Cyane!

Peace and Love,

xoxo

April 8: Special Yoga Class to Benefit Rwandan Youth Village

Stories from the Mat: From Rwanda to Yoga

April is Genocide Awareness Month. Please join me this Sunday, April 8, 5:30pm at FloYo Coral Gables for a donation-based yoga class to benefit the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, a place dear to my heart and home to more than 500 orphaned teens.

I'll share my journey of how I started practicing yoga after living abroad for six years in the Czech Republic and Rwanda working in higher education and international development. I'll then guide you through a 60-minute vinyasa flow class (all levels) to Rwandan music. We'll end with a dialogue and Q+A. Refreshments will be provided thanks to the generous support of Raw Juce.

GIVEAWAYS

At the end of class, I'll be giving away handmade Rwandan gifts and a Lululemon Mat courtesy of Lululemon Brickell City Centre, Miami. Lululemon was the first company I worked for after moving back to the USA!

HOW TO DONATE

Please bring cash or check donations made payable to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. You can also donate online.

LOCATION

The studio is located at 1430 S. Dixie Hwy, Suite 116. Coral Gables, FL 33146, next to Madruga Bakery and Raw Juce.

SIGN UP ONLINE

SIGN UP HERE

LEARN MORE

MISSION: Their goal is to enable orphaned and vulnerable youth to realize their maximum potential by providing them with a safe and secure living environment, health care, education and necessary life skills. Education and service are used to model and create socially responsible citizens in Rwanda and around the world.

For more information about the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, please visit their website. Check out the video below to see what ASYV looks like.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at sam@journeysforthesoul.com. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Peace and Love xoxo,

Originally shown at Stand Up & Be Counted 2017

How Rwanda Taught Me the Meaning of Forgiveness

I woke up thinking about Rwanda, a place I used to call home and to some extent, I still do.  April 7 marked twenty two years after the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. Almost one million people were brutally murdered in that small landlocked country in the heart of Africa. To this day when I share my story about living in Rwanda, most people either seem bewildered or terrified. Quite honestly, I never felt scared to live in Rwanda. In fact, I think of this country not as the Land of a Thousand Hills, but the Land of a Thousand Smiles. I felt an overwhelming sense of generosity and respect unlike anywhere I've ever felt before. Kwibuka meaning, to remember, in Kinyarwanda, is the nation's theme for the commemoration. Not only do Rwandans come together to remember, but they focus on unity and renewal for a better life, a more peaceful life. The progress that Rwanda has undergone since 1994 is unparalleled to anything I've ever witnessed. It's truly remarkable the sense of community that I felt when living in the the country. For example, every last Saturday of the month people gather to perform umuganda, or community service. Neighbors help out in their communities, build homes, and clean the streets (Kigali is known to be the cleanest African capital). I was in awe of the level of peace that I felt in the country and I often wondered, "how?" How could a post-genocide nation achieve this level of peace in such a short time span?  There could be a number of viable answers, but one that always comes to mind is forgiveness.

Webster's dictionary defines forgiveness as, "to stop feeling anger toward someone for doing something wrong."  But it's much more than that. It's about the willingness to achieve inner peace despite past circumstances and external factors. Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning someone else's behavior or giving a free pass. It's about being in choice, and choosing to live a life with more freedom and happiness.

Rwanda's people a true testament of the power of forgiveness. These past few days, I've been reading stories of former victims and murderers living side by side in peace. I reflect on the people I've met who have overcome and atrocities beyond imagination.

I'm not implying that hatred or animosity doesn't still exist in Rwanda. I'm sure it does like anywhere else. But the Rwanda I know today is beautiful. Its people are kind, gracious, and respectful. The Rwanda I know is strong. They embrace the present moment and create possibilities that didn't exist before.

I think about my Rwandan friends and family often, and the lessons that they unknowingly shared with me. I never really understood what it meant to forgive until I lived there. I didn't realize that forgiveness meant freedom. For that, I'm forever grateful. As Rwanda embarks on its 100 day mourning period, I'm embarking on 100 days of gratitude for having the privilege to live and work in a place of peace, love, and hope. To the people of Rwanda, you inspire me to be a better human. With all of my heart, Murakoze cyane (thank you).

Top 25 Most Memorable Moments: My Year at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village

This past year I spent my time at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda as a 2014 Fellow. You may wonder what it exactly means to be a fellow. For many, this idea of volunteering in "Africa" is an escape from the “real world.” Some may even think that I took a year off. Wrong. Having worked since I was 16 years old, I can say with confidence that this has been the most challenging and most important line of work that I have done. No, I did not perform open-heart surgery, but I did work with 500 orphaned and vulnerable teens from the ages of 15-22 years. Stress, emotional trauma, financial constraints, death, power outages, water cuts, disease, and cultural differences are but a few challenges that I have encountered this past year. As I begin to think about the next phase of my life, I realize that I have experienced it all within one year at ASYV. This hasn’t been a year off, rather, as one fellow traveler put it, it has been my “year on.” For the past eleven months, I have done everything from making beds before the new students arrived to greeting the Prime Minister of Norway for the ceremonial opening of the solar field, the first in East Africa, located on ASYV property. Not only did the scope of work vary, but also the intensity of it ranged from chaotic to quiet. I loved every minute it.

As I write this now, I cannot believe that I no longer reside at ASYV. As soon as I left those gates, the whole year is now a collection of memories, experiences, new friendships and family. The ASYV graduates always say that one can never leave Agahozo-Shalom, but Agahozo-Shalom lives within you. They were right. I may be getting on a plane in a few minutes, but I have gained a new home, and more importantly, new family members.

Here is a list of the top 25 most memorable moments as an Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village Fellow:

1. Spending Christmas in Gisenyi. Before the new students arrived, we went to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu for a few days to relax and spend the holiday.

2. Meeting the new students for the first time and becoming part of the Aloysie Inyumba family. Aloysie Inyumba (1962-2012) was the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion up until her death. She was best known for her hard work as an RPF leader during the Genocide Against the Tutsi and her commitment to rebuilding Rwanda. 

3. Celebrating the New Year at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) with 128 new kids.

 4. Being told, “When I see you, I love you” from one of the girls in my family.

5. Discovering $.30 pineapples and $.04 avocados at the local market in Rubona, a short walk from Agahozo-Shalom.

6. Watching the 2nd graduation ceremony for the Class of 2013. As of 2014, ASYV has 240 graduates. 

7. Laughing with my girls for the first time.

8. Experiencing the tragic loss of the ASYV Founder and Visionary, Anne Heyman (1961-2014). 

9. Visiting my girls in their actual homes outside ASYV. ASYV staff visit the students during vacation periods to check on them and understand more about their backgrounds.

10. Commemorating 20 Years after the Genocide Against the Tutsi with Agahozo-Shalom students who were born during the Genocide.

11. Hosting the African Development Bank’s First Ladies and Spouses Event at ASYV.

12. Meeting the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, at the opening ceremony of the first solar plant in East Africa on ASYV leased property.

13. Working on the first ASYV fundraising event in Rwanda, Stand & Be Counted Rwanda, which raised almost $100,000. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the actual event due to an illness in the family!

14. Building my first home out of mud and water for a vulnerable family with the ASYV students through the Tikkun Olam program, Hebrew for “repairing the world.” All students learn the importance of Tikkun Olam and work on various community projects during their time at ASYV (and hopefully after).

15. Attending Village Time, a weekly talent show held every Friday in the Village led by the students.

16. Being a part of the Staff Village Time and debuting in my first parody music video from the Rwandan Urban Boyz' song "Marry Me."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h54rw786SaY

17. Driving through the countryside and seeing this beautiful place, Agahozo-Shalom, set in the rolling hills of Rwanda.

18. Having a picnic with the new grade and going on a boat ride with my family, some of whom it was their first time.

19. Receiving poems and drawings from the kids and I cherish them more than anything else.

20. Exploring Rwanda and trekking to see the endangered mountain gorillas…AGAIN!

21. Waking up to this view every morning. 

22. Gaining new friends and family.

23. Having the privilege of seeing these smiles everyday.

24. Saying goodbye (for now) to the girls whom I have grown to love this past year. 

25. Realizing that Rwanda is not just another travel destination. It is home and I certainly will be back again to visit family and friends.