Reflections from a Facing History High School in Rwanda
The students and teachers have launched into preparing for the exchange with vigor and enthusiasm. Karen's observation from College Christ Roi, one of the Rwandan high schools, shed light on the students' spirit:
"When we arrived everyone was waiting for us and the teachers ran to greet us. Then the club students came. There are actually 40 students in this club and the 9 who are traveling — the 9 came to me all full of happiness and delight. We went upstairs and they introduced themselves. We were joined by several teachers... In fact, more teachers want to participate so next Wednesday I will speak to the entire school community about Facing History and Ourselves.
The students are sweet and sensitive and dear. We began by reading... the In Group out loud, a Facing History case study about an American middle school, and they have to share books so they are all wrapped around each other, leaning in, arms looped in each other's arms, arms around each other.
After they read I asked them to choose phrases or sentences that resonated for them. After they did I told them that the sentences they chose were the same ones I have heard American students choose. They spontaneously broke into excited clapping. I asked why this would be and one girl said, ‘Because we share the same problems.' So I used that as a bridge to talk about how we work with particular stories and histories to explore universal themes, patterns and behaviors.
We talked more about Eve's decision [in the case study] to be part of the in group and the implications of her choice. At one point a boy said that society might change you if you are not careful. I asked him how you become careful. He said, you have to think about everything two times. So, I used that to introduce the idea of thinking about your thinking. The students liked this idea a lot.
From there we went to questions they had:
- Will we all be together the entire three weeks (when I said yes, LOTS of clapping)
- Is Facing History and Ourselves only in schools or also other organizations?
- Who founded Facing History and Ourselves and will they meet Margot Strom?
- Why is there a pigeon on the front of Holocaust and Human Behavior? We took this opportunity to first describe everything we saw and then talk about what that might mean—that something has broken? that war has broken things? that peace is broken? that time has stopped? but the pieces of things are there so they can be rebuilt, but the bird is a dove of peace and it is there....I told them a bit about Samuel Bak and they said they'd like to see more of his work and could they please meet him
- They were very curious about the economic crisis. What does this mean for the US? What does this mean for the program? Will the US kids still come? Will they still go?
- Have children from South Africa gone to Boston? I said no, you are the first Facing History and Ourselves exchange—wild applause and laughing!
- Are the students in Boston curious about coming?
- Are they afraid of Rwanda?
- Is Facing History and Ourselves in other countries around the world? Where?
- Facing History and Ourselves should be in other countries in Africa like Burundi and other places there has been war
- Do I love Rwanda? If I have come here so much and love Rwanda, then I should have Rwandan nationality. I said you might have to take that up with your govt, the boy said, I will.
- Will we meet Barack Obama?
- They want to meet a survivor of the Holocaust
- They wonder if some Rwandan foods are in Boston? Kasava bread?
One of the students wrote this for us:
For your extra-wisdom
As in world you were needed
Circle of your healing we wish it around us
Nothing but responsibility
Goal is to overcome bad behaviors
High light human right
So much we can
To change world paradise
Removing prejudice
Your role is needed
And make it like one home
No one will be killed for who he is!
Do you imagine Holocaust should re-exist?
Or multi-culture should be like one?
USA and Facing Leaders
Really we thank you!
So much we can
Everyone is interested
Let really change the world
Various folk love like one
Exchange our opinion
So that world will be peaceful forever.
By Olivier
I wanted to add... that these children have not been 'toughened' by their history or somehow become immune to aspects of genocide or war. They are so sensitive. When we were talking about Lemkin and how he came up with the word genocide, one of the girls in the group cringed and shook. I have seen how Facing History and Ourselves opens doors for teachers here to make connections—and these connections are not only about their current situation but also, obviously, about the past. It's a way to touch that pain and violence. For the kids I am beginning to see not only how powerful this will be but grateful that we will model the first intensive seminar with the children —as their teachers no matter how compassionate and patient and dedicated are still struggling with old methods and are still, themselves, struggling with the past that is not so past. It's a reminder of the work that outsiders can do when they are sensitive to what is 'inside.'
This is the 15th year since the genocide and most of our children were born during the genocide or just after. There schools are sites of massacres and fighting. (St Andre was between the government forces and the RPF and huge sections had to be rebuilt). The children are in an in-between place, a heightened liminal state of development and adolescence. I want them to still believe in fairness, justness, going your own way and the things they are discussing and embracing now—but they will become adults in an ethnically exclusive dictatorship. When and how will they figure that out? Will this inspire some of them to think two times?"
