Latest Blog Posts
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Seeing Smiles and Learning about Love (Day 3)
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
By: Zoe, Yale UniversityAs I perused through the final exhibits at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, I could not help but question the tragic events that took place in 1994 between April and July. After reading through almost thirty separate exhibits describing the genocide, tears had begun to stream down my cheeks. Sure, I had read stories and books depicting and illuminating the atrocities of those 100 days; yet, I had never been so close to videos, stories, and the country itself. I never had the opportunity to read about the genocide, walk outside, and look at the faces of people who live through it daily. What is more, I had never spent days in Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, a space for orphans. I had never been asked “Do you have parents?” as if it was uncommon. No one had ever questioned whether I had a brother or sister in a way that did not come merely in the form of a curiosity; rather, there was a longing in the voices of these children. I had never seen a teenage girl explain to me with a faint smile that both her parents, two brothers, and three sisters were all killed during the genocide. How is she to react? The smile in no way conveyed any sense of happiness or joy. Instead, it was a smile of questioning. A smile that asked how in the world could this happen? Are we not all human? It was not a question of human rights. No. It was a question of human nature. It was a question of love. Are humans not called to love? Can we not all simply try (and in many ways succeed) to have love for everyone in our lives…the same love that we have for our family members? That was her question as she explained that she had lost her family, as she explained that they had been killed.
But her story did not end there. She truly understood what it meant to have a loving family outside of the biological blood that connects many of us. She found her family in her fellow youth at Agahozo. She found her family in me, and she called me her brother. I was honored.
I cannot count the number of times I have simply looked at a teenager here, smiled, and received the biggest smile I’ve ever seen in my life. At family time (a time where each household comprised of about 15 students comes together to discuss household and communal issues), I glanced at one child. Every time our gazes met, smiles protruded from our faces. Love was clear.
As I listened to the conversation between the household members, I was incredibly inspired by their understanding of the importance of respect and love in ones lives. To see young high schoolers, who have seen the purest of hate in their lives, not only understand love’s importance, but also seek it was yet another inspiration. It was truly beautiful.
I am going to go to sleep now…because I want to make breakfast tomorrow morning and also have energy throughout the day. I will try to expand on some of these ideas soon enough.
We had a discussion (that we will continue) as a group tonight about our experience at the memorial. We touched on everything from facts and humanitarian intervention to the efficacy of NGOs and our role in the world. I will definitely write more about this when I can.
Again, thanks for listening.
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Art meets Athlectics at ASYV
The kids at ASYV exercised their artistic abilities on the basketball court. As in the fashion of many basketball courts, the kids at ASYV decided our logo should be front and center on the court.
The methodically thought about the design, created a model, and painted it on the court. It turned out beautifully.
We hope you enjoy the pictures of their project.
An idea on paper
An idea comes to life
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Tikkun Olam at ASYV
by Shimon Solomon, Director of Educational Guidance
Tikkun Olam (literally, “repairing the world,” and practically, “engaging in social action”) is one of the core tenets of the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village. At the village, we decided to undertake Tikkun Olam as a central project because of the strong contribution it offers to the youth of Agahozo Shalom themselves, as well as to the surrounding communities. We believe in a well-rounded education for our youth that goes beyond simply doing well in school, but extends to being a good person who cares about others and knows how to give. The concept of Tikkun Olam is particularly important in Rwanda, given the country’s history –both as a very hospitable, and giving society (therefore ideologically aligned to this healing philosophy), but also as a wounded nation, in need of repair.
House Naming, October 2009
To have an impact on society generally, one must start with the individual. Agahozo-Shalom’s youth learn about sensitivity, love, giving, and the acceptance of people for who they are. In educating our children about the importance of being kind and giving, we are building their potential to help their country in the future. We believe that if others do the same, Rwanda will be blessed with strong leadership and a bright future. In order to ensure the success of Agahozo-Shalom’s Tikkun Olam program, we engaged in a 9-month long preparatory process to foster a deep understanding of the importance of this universal value among the staff, and even people living in the surrounding villages.
Our strategy for the Tikkun Olam project involves a four year process of gradually expanding the youth’s “Area of Service.” During their first year at Agahozo-Shalom, children focus on Tikkun Halev, or “repairing the heart.” During this time they work on building their own sense of self, identity, and confidence. During the second year, the youth begin community service in the nearby village of Rubona, where they work with school children, in the local clinic, and help local residents with basic needs. In their third year, they will begin to venture out to the larger area of the district, and finally, in their fourth year at Agahozo-Shalom, the youth will engage in Tikkun Olam throughout the country of Rwanda.
Following our first Tikkun Olam of 2010, we just received a great deal of positive feedback from the surrounding communities. We’re glad to report that the Agahozo-Shalom youth have truly internalized the concept of ‘repair’ as they continually seek for ways to help their village neighbors in whatever way possible. Our neighbors were touched by the children’s spirit and desire to share their talents and skills -for example, the nurse at the local clinic was moved to tears upon seeing how much the children wanted to help. We already look forward to the next round, you’ll certainly hear about it!
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Construction on Science Center Begins
Construction on the new science center at the village begins in March 2010. Watch the progress here. If you would like to contribute to other capital projects, click on our Donate page.
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THE FIRST VILLAGE TIME IN 2010
By JACQUELINE Uwizeyimana, Benazir Bhutto Family
This week’s blog entry comes to us from Jacqueline, who lives with 15 other girls in the Benazir Bhutto Family home
The first village time for 2010 happened on 8th January 2010 and it was special and very exciting because we were together with the new kids “our young sisters and young brothers” and the most interesting we were for the first time inside the dinning hall.
Usually we have a village time on Friday at 6:00pm, it is a time where we meet together as a big family and talk about what we have done and also what we could do in the next week and also we get different comments and announcements from different people.
The first village time was awesome! Because we were looking to the new kids just to make sure they understood English and I like to see their reactions when somebody talks.
These kids are really nice and beautiful but I have to work hard to memorize their names, once I try to do it in few minutes I get forget easily, that evening we had a wonderful time with them.The village time started at 6:00 pm as usual, it was led by two MC, and the religion club announces the freedom of the different beliefs at ASYV to the new kids.
NIR told us about how we should create our own culture. He told us that to have a real culture it takes a very long time, from generations to generations. The reason why we should have our own culture is that our village doesn’t have a Rwandan culture or Israeli culture but we have to create our own.
SHIMON told us about a quote as usual, this time was” the future depends on the present” and we have to work well so that the future will also be good.
The village time ended at 7:00pm and we took a dinner.
That evening was a wonderful time to every one in the village.
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My Visit to ASYV
December 2009
By: Josie SternI went to Rwanda (and Tanzania) this winter break with my family to visit the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. We had a rough two days getting there…but when we finally arrived, it was unbelievable. We landed in Kigali, Rwanda, and from there we went directly to spend the night at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village aims to create a safe, loving home and learning community for high school aged orphans in Rwanda. The teens are orphaned because of the Rwandan genocide and other reasons. The village is a place of hope, where traumatized youth can “dry their tears” (Agahozo) and “live in peace” (Shalom).
ASYV is a new home for the teens. It was founded a couple of years ago by Anne Heyman and welcomed its first year of students last January. The day after we arrived, the second class of students would arrive too. This was a very important day in the history of Rwanda and ASYV…and I was about to experience it. Just being there when the first girl walked onto its grounds was amazing. She had come from three hills away (in Rwanda they sometimes measure in hills because it is so hilly and they call it the “Land of a Thousand Hills”) with nothing but the clothes on her back. She must have woken up at a very early time and walked to ASYV. Her journey took three hours. The courage to go somewhere that you do not even know that much about is inspiring.In the morning, before the rest of the kids arrived, my family and I joined Sifa, Anne and Bosco on a trip to the nearby village market. We purchased bananas for the kids to enjoy as a snack when they arrived. Later, when the buses brought the groups of kids, there were tours of the village for them. It was really moving to watch the kids being introduced to their new “family” and meeting their house “mothers.” The hope that these kids have is purely unique. Their stories are horrible and devastating but they still got through it and made it, and now their lives will be slowly healed by the wonderful staff family at ASYV. I really admire and respect them for this. It was a truly wonderful trip and I am very honored to be a part of it by giving donations from Bat Mitzvah to it.
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A Return to ASYV
December 2009
By: Liz SternIt takes just under an hour to drive from Kigali to ASYV, a lot shorter than it used to take since the government improved the road leading from the main road into the Village. This is something Anne and the rest of the staff have been working on for a long time and what a difference!
Driving through the colorful gates brought back such memories from when I had last been here, a year and a half ago, during the final construction phase. I had come with my mother-in-law, Judy, and at that time, the majority of the houses were nearly complete, the dining hall and the school were about halfway complete, and we ceremoniously planted tiny little saplings at the entrance way. But the two hills on which ASYV sits were brown and dusty and yearning for attention.Now, I was struck by the explosions of color here. The little saplings were little trees! The hills were green with new grasses and plantings, the buildings were painted with dramatic murals from last year’s first class of students, and the farm at the base of the hills was alive with activity. It was an amazing sight and I was so proud to be bringing my husband, Emanuel, and our three daughters to experience the successful process and product that ASYV embodies. They’ve witnessed the attention and passion I have paid to it at home, and now they would see just how incredible this environment would be for the kids.
[To read more of this article, download the PDF.]
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Arrival Day – A message from Anne Heyman
December 21, 2009
By: Anne Heyman, FounderI awoke this morning feeling as though this would be the most wonderful day in the world. The unimaginable was about to happen – year 2 of Agahozo-Shalom begins. Over a cup of coffee this feeling was reaffirmed. I was told that our first child – a girl – had shown up at the gates at 7:00am. She came from a town that was approximately a 3 hours walk away, which meant she had risen with the sun and hit the road the minute there was light. And she came carrying nothing. The feeling was overwhelming when I heard that; it was overwhelming at least a dozen times during the day. The kids seem so young (mostly 16 and 17; a few 15 year olds). I know their stories. I can’t imagine what they have been through.
[To read more of this article, download the PDF.]
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A Note from the Agahozo-Shalom Executive Director
December 16, 2009
By: Tamar Copeland
Executive Director, Agahozo-ShalomFrom the moment you pass through the gates of Agahozo-Shalom, you can feel the sense possibility and purpose that emanates from this special place. The physical space is majestic and inspiring. Here in the Village, it is not hard to believe that if you see far, you will go far.
It’s a busy time –the kids are coming! And although they are not yet here, there are signs of them everywhere. From the Liquidnet Family High School to the basketball court to the kid’s homes named after their heroes such as George Washington Carver, Anne Frank, Benazir Bhutto and Socrates, we are constantly reminded of why we are here. Our activities are centered on preparing for their arrival, which grounds and focuses us all. In another setting, our trainings might look like typical orientation and team building exercises, but at Agahozo-Shalom, we are doing much, much more. We are busy with the shared goal of creating a home where our children can be whole and aspire to their personal dreams. We are building family.
I am both moved and inspired by the commitment of new and returning staff and our volunteers who have selflessly chosen to dedicate their hearts and their lives to our kids. I hope that you will have the opportunity to visit Agahozo-Shalom to understand the extraordinary potential of this model. Your life will be forever changed.
(left) Elton Hassal, (center) Tamar Copeland, (right) Alain Munyaburanga, ASYV Associate Director
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A Beautiful Day at Agahozo-Shalom
December 15, 2009
By: Rachel Olstein
Director of Volunteer Services – ASYVThe day begins early here with the chirping of birds and the early morning sun peeking in through the curtains. Leaving our room and stepping out onto the porch, we’re greeted by a freshly planted lawn looking over the blossoming farm. The crops are flourishing, providing the entire village with nourishment from pineapples, bananas, beans, carrots and more.
All around, preparations are being made for Monday, when 125 new students will arrive at the village. Tables are being assembled and painted, mosquito nets hung, and grass chopped. Some students have already begun to arrive, bringing with them an enthusiasm and cheer that fuels the excited anticipation in the air. They can be heard singing on the way back from meals or shooting hoops in the evening. Meanwhile, the staff – house mothers, counselors, and volunteers – is participating in training and team building sessions. Everyone at the village is thirsting for knowledge and skills; in each session, new ideas are born, shared and formulated into plans for the coming year. The veteran staff has taken on a leadership role, passing on the philosophy and spirit of Agahozo Shalom to the new staff.
All around, there is a sense of eagerness and readiness to begin this new year at the village, where things are already blossoming and bustling, confident that the coming year will be a success.