High School Graduation Gives Rwandan Youth Hope For Their Future

Benoit smiled broadly at his recent secondary school graduation party. A promising student in literature, Benoit spoke to his fellow graduates about his hope to continue his education and become a journalist. The first graduating class of 83 students who participated in JDC-IDP's non-sectarian Back to School Project in Rwanda was deeply moved by this talk of the future, because all too recently, many of the students felt as if they had no future at all. These young people are all survivors of the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994.

The graduation party, which took place in the capital city of Kigali in July 2003, was hosted by JDC to acknowledge the students' incredible accomplishment in the face of such overwhelming circumstances. Joining the students and the JDC representative at the celebration were officials from the Kibungo Prefecture (the site of project activities), Board members and staff from the Benishyaka Association (JDC's local partner) and several teachers who helped bring the students to this point.

Rwanda's civil war took more than 1 million lives and destroyed much of the small country’s infrastructure. In response, JDC provided immediate disaster relief and medical assistance, and then, over the next several years, turned its attention to helping to rebuild communities and reunite children with their families.

One such project is the "Back to School Project," which is helping to reintegrate youth from the Kibungo Prefecture who lost family members in the war, like Benoit, back into their communities. Initiated in 1997, approximately 1,500 orphans aged 12-18 were provided with school supplies and uniforms to enable them to return to secondary school. In addition, approximately 200 of the most impoverished students received support so that they could complete the full six-year secondary school program. This program benefits not only the young people of Rwanda, but also their families and communities by expanding the cadre of educated youth who can eventually take their places among the country's leaders. Kibungo was selected because the need there is great and it was the site of several past JDC activities, including a trauma-counseling project for children.

The project received funding from Israeli school children who raised over $50,000 in a national campaign sponsored by the Israeli Ministry of Education. A $50,000 donation was received from an anonymous Israeli donor, and JDC (on behalf of the 36 members of the Jewish Coalition for Rwanda Relief) also provided $50,000. Most of the school supplies were purchased in Israel, packed by Israeli school children, and distributed in bags inscribed with the message, "From the Children of Israel." Paintings from Israeli school children that contain greetings in Kinyarwanda, the Rwandan language, accompanied these supplies.

Benoit's story is unfortunately a common one among Rwanda's youth. Benoit's father was killed during the ethnic fighting in 1990 and his mother was murdered in 1994. His one married sister was raped in 1994 and has since died of AIDS. His brother-in-law was also killed during the genocide. While he attended secondary school, Benoit was also caring for his sister's two children whom he had brought to live with him in his shed. Benoit is unique in this respect, as girls head approximately 90% of the over 45,000 child-headed households in Rwanda.

Traumatic experiences such as the loss of parents and other family members are major hurdles for young Rwandans, explained a JDC staff member. "Many of the students witnessed the murder of their family members and are now living with the guilt of survival, the confusion of genocide and a host of other destructive emotions that surround having experienced violence on such a large scale."

In part because of this shared history, there is a great solidarity among the students. At a school in the remote village of Byumba, JDC representatives met with three boys who were all studying to become teachers. One of the students had not been promoted to the 6th grade, and his friend, who would be graduating at the end of the year asked, "What will happen to students who did not pass to the next grade?"

The JDC representatives were greatly moved by the concern that those left back would have their sponsorship revoked. One of the students stated, "It is circumstance and not bad will, that has caused some of us to stay behind." After explaining that JDC is committed to supporting those who will need a few extra years to complete their secondary school program, the students’ fears were allayed.

At all of the meetings that took place between JDC staff and the students, the pupils expressed their heartfelt thanks for the visit, and their appreciation to JDC for "not forgetting about" them, for "still caring," and "for carrying their burdens." During a meeting with the large group of students from the Teacher's Training College in ZaZa, the students also expressed their desire to "not let us down," and promised to work hard and help others in difficult times as they, themselves, had been helped.

JDC continues to work closely with the Benishyaka staff, particularly the social worker in charge of the student caseload, to ensure that the needs of the remaining 88 students continue to be met.