Nyange School Memorial & Traveling to Kabuye

Backpost from 7-30-11

Today my group and I travelled to Kabuye.  On the way, we stopped at the Nyange School were a planned attack occurred AFTER the initial genocide.  This school was a boarding school and was targeted because it taught forgiveness, reconciliation, and the idea that ethnicity was unimportant and all that mattered was that the students were all Rwandans.  The attackers entered the school after killing the night guard and entering different classrooms.  Six children died and many others were injured.  These students are seen as heroes in Rwanda.  This is because when the attackers came in they demanded that the Hutus and Tutsis separate.  They said no harm would come to the Hutus if they simply obeyed.  They did not.  No one moved; instead, they bravely stood up to the attackers and stated that there were no Tutsi and there were no Hutus there, only Rwandans.  Because of this, they lost their lives.  How brave these students were! 

I found this memorial to be very important because it showed that violence did not just stop after the 100 days.  It did continue and animosity did not just magically fade away.  It took a lot of effort, but this school was proof that forgiveness was/is possible.  It proves how necessary it is in order to move on and better the country as a whole.  As I walked into the classrooms I could see the lessons on the boards that they were all studying that night.  I saw desks with writings and carvings just like ones in the U.S.  It is funny how kids from all over love to deface desks at school! J There were neighbor children outside the windows of the classrooms waving to us and it really brought this memorial to life.  It made me hopeful and I left with a renewed sense of pride for the young men and women who did something that I hope I too would have been strong enough to do if put into that same position. 

Afterwards, we finished our traveling (holy long bus ride!) to Kabuye.  It was so interesting to see how the culture and language barriers seemed to melt away throughout the bus ride.  With a background stereo playing Rwandan and American pop songs, we began to realize we are not that different after all.    I loved that feeling of unity and hope that we seemed to have as we arrived at Centre Bethania. 

This place looked like it was straight out of a postcard.  Set atop the lake on a hill, I honestly never wanted to leave.  It was absolutely amazing!  The view was breathtaking.  I ended up rooming with Jean D’ark and Christina.  After an interesting bedding arrangement, we changed rooms and each had our own place.  Granted, we were missing a mosquito net, but before the end of the night it was put up.  Our neighbors weren’t so lucky at first.  The lack of beds, etc. proved to be almost too much for Mel, Erika and Joelle.  When one of the domestic workers (who spoke zero English) dropped a mattress on the floor and was ready to leave I couldn’t help but burst into laughter!  Luckily, one of the Rwandan Directors was walking by and remedied the situation.  A bed frame and mosquito net and sheets were delivered shortly after. 

Overall it was an amazing trip and I look forward to the next few days here in this little slice of Heaven.