Tufts Hillel tonight will host a discussion aimed at bringing the genocide−marred history of Rwanda and its revitalized culture to Tufts.
A group of Tufts students who went on Hillel−sponsored service trips to the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda in the summers of 2009 and 2010 organized the event, titled REACH (Rwanda Extravaganza of Arts, Culture and Hope) for Rwanda.
ASYV houses Rwandan youth orphaned during and after the country's 1994 genocide, aiming to rehabilitate them and teach them to become constructive members of society.
"The goal is that these kids will come out as more complete individuals and be able to contribute to their communities," junior Matt Davis, a member of the Hillel Student Board who went on the trip in 2010, said. "They give them a complete education."
As part of this education, Davis said, the village equips the youth with valuable skills, such as how to farm effectively, how to construct sustainable farms and how to repair bicycles.
"They emphasize the idea of … repairing the world,'" Davis said.
Students who went on the trips will be on hand at tonight's event to share their experiences, according to junior Hillary Sieber, the student coordinator of the 2009 trip.
"The general goal of the event is to raise awareness about the village," Sieber said. "We're trying to act as ambassadors for the village because it needs local and international support to sustain itself."
Sieber hopes students attending the event will learn more about the legacy of the nation's 1994 genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people.
"I hope they come out of it with a brightened understanding of what Rwandan culture is like and also a greater understanding of … the consequences of the Rwandan genocide."
Senior Lauren Levine echoed Sieber's sentiments, expressing her hope that the event will help spread awareness of the country's history to Tufts students.
"Everyone will be able to benefit from learning about Rwanda's culture and history," she said.
Levine in 2009 traveled to Rwanda, an experience that she said helped open her eyes to the travesty of the genocide. "I saw the Rwandan genocide through the eyes of survivors that were near my age," she said.
The event will include a display of photographs taken by students who visited the village in May, according to Davis. "Their pictures are absolutely gorgeous, and that's going to be really cool," he said.
The photographs will be sold off in a raffle, the proceeds of which will go toward supporting the village's efforts, according to Sieber.
"Our big goal is to raise support and raise awareness of ASYV at Tufts," Davis said. "The goal is to take the inspiration we saw there and bring it back to Tufts … and advocate for the village."
Tufts a cappella groups S−Factor and sQ! will perform at the event, as will the student African percussion and dance group Kiniwe. Sieber said that traditional African food, dancing and a video about the village will be featured at the event.
The event will be held in the Alumnae Lounge in Aidekman Arts Center tonight at 7 p.m.
