It's Official.... I'm Going to Rwanda!

Hi everyone!  My name is Mary Brittany and I found out earlier this year that I will be heading to Rwanda for approximately a month this summer.  I have been advised to start a blog to track my every move so we'll see how this turns out!  I figure that it's a great way to monitor my fundraising efforts prior to leaving and also an easy way to stay in touch with the outside world while I am overseas.  I'm very new to this so bear with me....


Now for everyone who isn't quite sure where this beautiful little country is located, I've included a handy map with this post.  That's right mom, I'm headed to Sub-Saharan Africa.  I have been selected as a delegate for a human rights delegation through Global Youth Connect (GYC), an NGO that focuses on the empowerment of youth to help provoke change throughout the world.  We will work quite a lot with genocide victims, at-risk women and children, and traditionally marginalized peoples.  We are partnering with Rwandan NGO's that are already established to help support them and provide any assistance that we can.  I think it is great that this is not just an international effort and that instead GYC partners with these local groups.  We are supporting the idea of "Rwandans helping Rwandans."  On my days off I plan to visit and volunteer at a local orphanage as well as visit Lake Kivu.  I will also be conducting quite a lot of research while I am overseas.  I am lucky enough to have an advisor at my University that is very supportive of research initiatives and has agreed to help me use my findings for a class this fall.  I'm overwhelmed, excited and extremely nervous.  I have a lot of research to do prior to leaving and a lot of money to fundraise as well.  It's definitely not going to be easy!  I just received some books from Amazon the other day.... one of which is an English- Kinyarwanda-French dictionary.  Pretty impressive.  Can't wait to start learning the languages; I doubt anyone is going to be able to understand my ramblings though.

Rwanda is a beautiful place with an impressive group of people and an intriguing history and culture.  Most only know the name of this country because of the horrific genocide that occurred in 1994, though.  Between 800,000 - 1,000,000 people were slaughtered in just 100 days.  This genocide began in April 1994, approximately 17 years ago.  I was only four years old when this began.  In Rwanda, April is a time for remembrance and self-reflection.  The country has come a long way since the genocide, but it is obvious that it still has a long road ahead of it.  I am grateful for the opportunity to help in this transition!

I am spending this month evaluating my own life as well and beginning to move it into a brand new direction.  During this month of April, I urge you to do the same.  Evaluate your life and recognize the blessings that you have surrounding you.  Stop assuming that you can only help yourselves and begin reaching out to those less fortunate in your communities and neighborhoods.  I've heard quite a lot that "no one cares about Africa" and that I am silly to think that I can make any difference over there.  I don't buy that.  I know that with the help of others like myself from GYC we really can make a difference.  Even if I can help just one person, then this trip will be worth it.  Thanks for reading and I'll update my fundraising page soon!