Posts from June, 2009
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Liquidnet CEO attends Agahozo-Shalom Inauguration
Seth Merrin, CEO, Liquidnet Holdings, Inc., and 8 colleagues attended the inauguration of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village and dedication of the Liquidnet Family High School on June 23, 2009.
Below are Seth’s reflections of his visit.
Seth Merrin, CEO, Liquidnet Holdings, Inc.
By Seth Merrin, CEO, Liquidnet Holdings, Inc.
June 2009Last week eight folks from Liquidnet, including myself, went to Rwanda for the official opening of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), a home for Rwandan orphans which the Liquidnet community has helped to build. The village actually opened in December when the first 125 orphans entered. Even though we have been involved since the inception of this project, being at the village and talking to the students, counselors and teachers had a profound effect on all of us. It put a lot of things into perspective, especially in these times. I thought I would share some thoughts with you.
With names like Innocent and Patience, every kid and counselor has a story that could best be expressed only in the goriest of horror movies.
[To read more of this post, Seth Merrin June 2009 download the PDF]
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Umuganda: A Day of Service in Rwanda
By Tina Wyatt
Today was National Service Day in Rwanda. It is a day where the citizens of Rwanda, as a collective, work to clean up Rwanda. This involves picking up trash, sweeping, picking weeds, watering plants, etc. They begin at 8:00 am and work until 12:00 pm. All businesses are closed as everyone is required to participate.
In the Village, we also participate in Umuganda. Half of the kids, including some of us visitors, worked in the farm. We pulled weeds, watered fruit trees, etc. At the end, we planned the Rwandan version of duck, duck, grey duck. It was a lot of fun getting our hands dirty and working alongside the kids. They laugh and sing songs while working in the farm.
The other half of the kids worked in cleaning their houses, doing laundry, cleaning the village. They all take the cleanliness of their country and the village very seriously and it shows.
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What a WONDERFUL Day!!!
By Tina Wyatt
Today was filled with excitement and more emotion than one person can have. As one of the people who helped begin this dream, today I stand here at agahozo-shalom and it has become a reality.
There are so many that have helped make this come true. In the words of Secretary of State Clinton.. It takes a village. In our case it took a village to build a village.
To the kids of agahozo-shalom… dare to dream because here it will happen.
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View from the ASYV dedication ceremony
Today was a ‘two-fer’. It started with a beautiful and moving ceremony at the Liquidnet school. As i’ve mentioned before, we should all be so lucky to have a school as beautiful as this. The kids presented to us and they just never cease to amaze us.
This afternoon we had a ‘long’ (not by local standards i’m told) day of speeches and presentations. Representatives from literally all over the world were here expressing their thanks, appreciation and excitement. Everyone shared the same concensus that this is truly a model to be emulated globally.
I encourage everyone to come to appreciate the beauty of this place and these kids.
From Neal Goldstein
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my appreciation
i am very happy today. For i have seen this. i thank my God and i wont to say that you have done a great job. let God help you. And this project will succeed because good beginning makes good ending. keep it up every one is on your side
thanks alot
yonas solomon
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ceremony of ceremonies
To see all the ministers from the government, the governor of the Eastern Province, the ambassadors from the US and Israel all here and giving speeches in recognition of what the ASYV can do for the country was really amazing. But hearing the songs created by the kids and the skits that they put on telling their parents who passed away not to worry, they have a new family and they will be just fine, did it for me. That is the meaning of Agahozo Shalom. They said it all.
From Seth Merrin
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ASYV students perform alongside the Bat Sheva dance group from Israel
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The handprint canvas from the May 2009 “Stand Up & Be Counted” ASYV benefit in NYC, now hanging in the Safra Community Center
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Nir Lahav, Director of the ASYV
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The flag pole at the center of the ASYV, site of the groundbreaking on August 17, 2007
