Biographies

June 2011 – Participants

BAHATI KAZUNGU JONAS

Is a Congolese refugee in Kiziba camp, 26years old, one of the refugee camps in Rwanda located in Karongi district.  Am completing my secondary school at Karengera high school (Nyamasheke district) is also I charge of education and social affairs in the whole camp and also in charge of discipline at college AMAHORO DE KIZIBA. His time this program me intends to use his growing knowledge and experience to empower individuals through the current human rights dialogue.

Bahati has worked in many NGO’s as a volunteer, some of them are UNHCR, JRS, AHA, and also acted as Master of ceremony (M.C) in the refugee camp.

 

Cecilia Black

Cecelia is completing a degree in International Studies focusing on African studies at George Washington University in Washington DC. Outside of class, Cecelia volunteers with Health Leads, an organization that employs college volunteers as social advocates for low-income families at Children’s National Medical Center. During her semester in South Africa, she became particularly interested in transitional justice while taking a course on truth commissions.

Cecelia also enjoyed jumping the world’s highest bungee jump during her semester there!  Cecelia hopes that by participating in Global Youth Connect’s delegation she will gain a better understanding of successful transitional justice programs, as well as learning more about the complexities of a post-conflict state’s transition.  After returning home, Cecelia hopes to continue to promote human rights while pursuing a graduate degree in public health or development.
Later Cecelia hopes to pursue a career in the Foreign Service or with USAID in hopes of further promoting human rights in US policy.

 

 

 

Angela Brown

 

Angie Brown is 24 years old completing her final year of graduate study at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) pursuing her Master of Science degree in Social Responsibility. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa with a double major in Sociology and Psychology and a minor in Art: Studio. Her research is focused on strategies and outcomes of youth leadership development and mobilization within the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) movement, an interest that was magnified while interning with two LGBTQ youth serving organizations in the Midwest dedicated to racial, gender, sexual, and economic equality. For two years Angie has managed the Pathways Program for Incarcerated Students at SCSU, a program that offers higher education to offender students that is committed to reducing rates of recidivism for marginalized populations. As a social justice activist, she is eager to learn through GYC how to develop and implement effective strategies of community organizing and advocacy for human rights as well as to increase her cultural awareness and challenge her personal assumptions, ideologies, and privileges.

 

 

 

 

Ashley Brown

Ashley is currently pursuing her master’s in Global and International Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, with an emphasis in human rights and development. In 2008, Ashley graduated with her B.A. in Communications and a minor in Black Studies from UCSB.  After graduation, Ashley became involved with a local micro-financing organization, absorbing as much as she could from the process, and was inspired by how powerful community-based organization could truly be around the world. Inspired by the work of international NGOs and her travels, and her own involvement with the Human Rights Group on campus, Ashley became a strong advocate for community-based development projects. Her research interests include sustainable development practices and the formation of policy regarding social justice and human rights issues within a global framework. Following her time in Rwanda and graduation, Ashley intends to use her growing knowledge and experience to empower individuals by revitalizing the current human rights dialogue and aid in the formation of a more conscientious world.

 

 

 

NGARUKIYINTWALI THARICISE   

Am a student at Kigali institute of science and technology (KIST) , pursuing a degree of science in computer science program. Is the president of computer studies club, which is a network of students in computer fields and they meet once a month to discuss major needs and challenges in computer usage. After completing my high school I worked with various youth centers so as to teach computer usage.

This project oriented me a leadership position of convincing the youth to become journalists for peace instead of hatred. This position rose up the interest of human rights according to the workshop and seminars I participated in.

Am intending to gain more experience from this human rights training.

 

NIYIBIZI JULIEN

I grew up from a rural area and graduated with a degree in Linguistic from Annamalai University in India is now working as a lecturer in Rukara college of Education as a tutor in language department. I participated in different workshops and trainings organized by the ministry of local government. Although I have never participated in any human rights workshops or seminar.

So I intend to benefit from this coming workshop and would like to encourage Rwandans to be aware of their rights.

 

MUNYANEZA REMY

Am a Rwandan human right activist, I have obtained a bachelors degree in law at the national university of Rwanda and now pursuing a post graduate program in legal practice at the institute of legal practice and development. Am very interested in human rights issues, at the end of my university studies, me and my colleagues came up with   ideas of how to help our country by strengthening human rights in our society, and that’s when we founded “I.N.A.L.A.S” a.s.b.l, which is a national non governmental organization which provided legal aid to vulnerable people, such as orphans, prisoners, widows etc.

I hope to build my understanding of   human rights in this program, which will be of great importance in my career of being a human rights activist.

After finishing this program , I hope to continue working on the field of human rights, and more to that am a member of the Kigali BAR association from April 2010.

 

 

 MUKASEKURU JEANNE D’ARC

Am 27years old, a student at KIGALI INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY (ULK) in my fourth year doing computer science, specifically as a focal point of COPORWA (communite des potties rwandais) which is the national organization working for the promotion of potters people of Rwanda with the mission of promoting education even establishing adult literacy center using reflect methods.

It’s about helping potter’s communities to have or to know their rights as Rwandese even though they are the minorities, to be sensitized more about local, national and international policy. it also helps the minority communities to get advocacy on land, accommodation and insurance life.

Out of my organization, I like studying, peace and I dislike any kind of marginalization.

Through this workshop I expect to gain more knowledge about sharing national and international cultures, learning English and public speaking, more to that coporwa would be so happy because their beneficiaries will be visited.

 

NYIRARWAKA QUEEN

Am 21years old, I completed my high school at Alliance high school, after completing my high school I went to Uganda to study university, now I have finished my first year in social work and social administration.

My intention about field work is to know each and everything e.g. skills on how to serve clients or how I can handle people, and I used to be a volunteer at my high school. Where by I helped with traumatized students , that’s why am so happy to participate in this program.

 

NDOLI JASPER

I am called Jasper Ndoli aged 30; I have bachelors’ degree in Law and am single. I have been doing different activities related to my profession “Lawyer” but also economic development and health as mentioned in my CV where I attained certificates.

This takes me straight to my point of why I decided to choose Rwanda Allied Peace and Progress (RAPP), I love peace and development and without education, health and economic development my dream would be myth.

Therefore, I wish to attend or be able to know more about this organization and put in practice what I have learnt either by experience or in theory. It is more advantageous of being trained or working in related Organs like Akazi Kanoze (good work) and HIV/AIDS at campus National University of Rwanda (NUR).

All in all, I wish to gain more about promoting peace, education, economic development, health and give what I believe to be helpful to those who believe in the mentioned perspective ways of transforming our society particularly and world in general.

 

Tumukunde Jacky

 

I’m doing AGRIBUSINESS in the faculty of AGRCULTURE at national university of Rwanda. And so far I did some internships related to my field as I mentioned in my C.V, I interned with Garden for health. As a Program Associate, strengthening community management of malnutrition.

 

I also got an opportunity of working with some NGO’S out of the country and learnt how they are working towards development of agriculture like Cotton conservation initiative Uganda (CCIU)worked as fieldwork supervisor  Improving  trainings provided to farmers and marketing strategies. Still looking forward to find more opportunities to improve my field skills.

 

In that way I choosed to work with health development initiative, and Rwandans allied for peace and progress (RAPP) because i feel much interest in this as it works directly with people improving their health as well as supporting their well being. After this i don’t hesitate that i will learn more and be able to contribute a lot to my society and the world in general.

And i hope to put in practice this and let other people be involved in contributing in building peace in our country and all over the world.

Rachel DeFoe

Rachel DeFoe is twenty years old and grew up in a small rural midwestern town without a single stoplight. Now, however, she is a political science and international studies double major at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas (the seventh largest city in the US). During the Fall, she completed a semester abroad in London, and while there, worked as an intern for the Conservative Party and UK Parliament. Rachel has a passion for politics and foreign policy. After graduation, she hopes to become a Foreign Service Officer for the US State Department, and get stationed in a country where she can help the people and work to create a greater good on a global scale. After taking a class during her freshman year of college about Rwanda and the genocide, she has been interested in the country and the reconstruction and renewal process. With that being the case, she is very much looking forward to the experiences she will have with the opportunity of being a part of the human rights delegation in Rwanda, a truly amazing country.

 

Hierete Desta

 

Hierete Desta is currently a student at American University in the School of International Service in Washington, D.C. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, with a focus on identity and conflict in Africa. While an undergraduate student at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, she was awarded a fellowship to travel and research HIV prevention efforts in Ethiopia, concentrating specifically on the dissonance between knowledge and behavior amongst youth. In the spring of 2010, she interned at the U.S. Department of State addressing issues of peace-building in East Africa. Hierete then traveled to Brussels for a summer internship at a non-profit organization where she researched and drafted reports about conflict prevention and the proliferation of small arms across Sub-Saharan Africa. She hopes that participating in the delegation to Rwanda will provide her with the experience and insight necessary to supplement her graduate coursework and become an effective practitioner of conflict resolution.

 

MUTONI GRACE

My names are grace mutoni, am 26 years old, Am a student and I have worked with KK security as a sales agent. I am so interested in this training as it is my passion to meet different people plus sharing ideas with different people. More to that I like helping people that why I applied for this training

 

UMUHOZA JANET 

Is   a Rwandese aged 20 years old. I completed my high school in 2010 and planning to join university next year. I have been volunteering with HDI since November 2010, in a project called (share) sexual health and reproductive education; this is a project that educates the youth about reproductive health, family planning, HIV / AIDS, STD’S Human rights alcohol awareness. I personally hope that the Rwandan youth will be aware of HIV/ AIDS and will create a new generation free from HIV /AIDS, and the youth rights will be respected in years to come.

 

MUGISHA JEROME

Am an artist and comedian in my first year in commercial art in Kampala international university, but in a break right now. Am an actor and comedian volunteering in every social work available in order to learn the lifestyle and understand the situation and cost of living in Rwanda. I think GYC will help me discover many things about Rwanda and will learn more about human rights. I want to be able to help other artists.

 

 

 

Hillary Lee Ditmars

 

Hillary is a junior at Harvard College, concentrating in Social Studies with a specialized focus field on mental health and social justice in Africa. She is pursuing a secondary concentration in English and is working to fulfill pre-med requirements as well while at Harvard. Next year, Hillary will be writing her senior thesis on the role of expressive cultural production and art-based therapies in post-genocidal reconciliation and healing in Rwanda. Hillary is interested in the multifaceted nature of global health, and spent last summer as an intern at the World Health Organization, working on palliative care policy for tuberculosis patients within the Stop TB Strategy department. An active violinist and avid music lover, Hillary is a member of several musical ensembles on Harvard’s campus, and also teaches music lessons to neighborhood youth through a volunteer outreach program. Hillary is also a peer counselor at Harvard. She hopes that participating in the delegation to Rwanda will provide her with first-hand insight into the intersection of grassroots efforts, community rebuilding, and the arts as a tool for social change. After graduation, Hillary plans to contribute to ongoing global health efforts related to mental wellness and conflict-resolution before attending medical school.

 

Frances (Ke) Feng

 

Frances is originally from Beijing, China. She came to the United States at age of 18 to pursue her Bachelor Degree with a double-major in international relations and economics. In particular, she is passionate about the education and development, especially with a focus on the unequal education between different genders. Also, she’s interested in how international organizations function in developing courtiers in terms of education. Started from high school, Frances has been volunteering in various schools of small villages in China. In 2010, she participated Wheaton College Tanzania Program and spent a whole month there to research on its education system and do volunteer teaching. Through those experiences, she realizes the urgency for educational empowerment and reassures her passion to work in this field in the future. In her spare time, she learned Karate for 4 years and kept practicing piano since the age of 6. Her long-term goal is to work in an organization like UNESCO, UNICEF, or UNIFEM to bring worldwide assistance on education, especially for girls.

 

 

Jessica Haldeman

Jessica Haldeman is pursuing her graduate degree in International Studies focusing on African studies at Ohio University in Athens, OH. In December 2008, Jessica participated in a month-long service-learning trip in Rwanda, coordinated by Otterbein College. During her time there, she volunteered in health clinics, schools, and orphanages, as well as with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. By participating in the delegation she hopes to deepen her understanding of the role of grassroots human rights efforts in post-conflict countries. She also hopes to help create positive and sustainable change in Rwanda. Following the delegation and graduation, Jessica hopes to pursue another graduate degree in Peace and Conflict resolution, and later hopes to work in the human rights field in Africa, specifically with refugees and internally displaced persons.

 

 

Semir Hasedzic

 

Semir is completing his fourth and final year at the University of Washington, where he is pursuing a degree in International Studies with a focus on Nationalism and Ethnicity. In his spare time, Semir is involved in different activities around campus. In the last two years he has participated in a Model EU, volunteered with the East African Community Services, and non-conventional gigs such as a youth soccer coach. After graduation from the University of Washington, Semir looks towards Washington D.C. as the gateway for his master’s degree in foreign affairs as well as the jumping point for networking opportunities. By participating in the Rwanda delegation he hopes to further gather knowledge about what kinds of efforts are possible in post-conflict countries. He is very interested in the areas of children’s rights, humanitarian interventions, and reconciliation in a post-conflict society. Added to his interests is the fact that he was born in Bosnia in 1988, only to flee the country four years later due to the genocide.

 

KALISA SAMMY

Am a project manger of Amajwi y’ ubuzima at RAPP. I pursued an advanced diploma in Peace building and conflict resolution at Mindoro Ecumenical Foundation in Zambia. Before I went to Zambia, I used to be a journalist at Radio Rwanda, the leading radio station in Rwanda, after my studies, I joined Lutheran World federation and worked as a community development coordinator. I have experience in cross culture issues, human rights, conflict resolution and development.

 

MUHIZI SAMUEL

Am 24 years old, am at the university of RTUC(Rwanda tourism university college) in the department of travel and and tourism management, am on the degree program, am in my third year  and I will be graduating next year in November,

I love the fact that am Rwandese, and am so happy that am going to be sharing ideas with different people  of different cultures , more to that am so happy that am going to do some volunteering which is away of improving my knowledge about human rights.

 

MUSENGIMANA DEVOTA

AM 27 years old, I have a bachelors degree in social sciences,(department of  sociology at Kigali independent university) ULK ,where I was in charge of social affaires of the students before joining ULK, I also worked for PROJJETO RWANDA  an association of Italians, then after I worked for Cross link services limited Rwanda.

That’s why am so happy about being trained about human rights so as to improve my knowledge about human rights.

Am very much looking forward to the experience I will have plus the opportunity of being a participant in this training.

 

 

 

 

Ariel Murray

Ariel Murray is pursuing her undergraduate degrees in Political Science as well as Communication Arts in Rhetoric at the University of Wisconsin in Madison,

Wisconsin. Currently, Ariel is beginning her training to work as a tutor with the

Schools of Hope program that assists underprivileged elementary and high school students. In addition to volunteering, Ariel is working to prepare for the LSAT with the hopes of attending law school when she graduates next June. Within the legal profession, she hopes to pursue a career in international and human rights law. Her interest in these areas of law have shaped and guided her academic career throughout college and even high school. While most of her experiences with international law and human rights issues have been confined to a classroom, she hopes that the Rwandan delegation will provide firsthand knowledge of international conflict and conflict resolution so that she can be well-equipped to work for change and justice in her future.

 

 

Stina Amanda Renvall

 

Stina is a rising senior studying Global Relations at Sewanee: The University of the South with a concentration on social, economic, and political development. She is also pursuing a minor in French language. Stina attends the University of the South thanks to the Posse Foundation Leadership Award. Posse scholars around the country are committed to spreading diversity at a variety of campuses. Stina’s interest in activism was sparked when she attended Annapolis Senior High School, where the division of the student body based on socioeconomic lines was significant. Stina was born in Järvenää, Finland and currently lives both in Annapolis, Maryland and Hyvinkää, Finland.

 

 

Alexandra Saper

 

Alexandra is an undergraduate honors student at Drew University in Madison, NJ, where she is pursuing a specialized major in Behavioral Science and a minor in French. She has served in various areas of community and youth development in Argentina (2010), and has lived and worked at an orphanage in Haiti (2011). Alexandra has also served as an in-kind donations intern at the International Rescue Committee in Phoenix, AZ (2010) and currently works as a tutor and mentor for junior high students in Harlem, NY. She is in the process of writing her senior honors thesis focusing on the social, cultural, and psychological perspectives on the reconciliation process in post-genocide Rwanda. Through participation in the delegation, Alexandra hopes to receive further insight into the efforts of grassroots development organizations as mechanisms for change, as well as understanding the psycho-socio-cultural barriers to and methods for conflict resolution.

 

Eirena Akaliza Shalita

 

Akaliza is pursuing her B.A. in communications at the University of Maryland College Park. She is an active member of the college park chapter of NAACP and holds the position of SGA liaison on the executive board. She has also spent time volunteering with her university’s chapter of Invisible Children, as well as, the non-profit organization Baltimore BORN. She considers herself to be at the beginning of her life’s journey. This program will offer her an opportunity and hopefully direction to enact change. Through the program’s hands on approach, she will gain experience in this field of social change and a better understanding of how to advance development and human rights. Upon graduating this spring she intends to take a year off and work, volunteer, or intern for either an NGO, governmental, or for profit organization hopefully in Rwanda, Uganda or the U.S.. After, she plans on attending graduate school to study either social policy or international development, or attending law school where she would study comparative law. Akaliza also works at the first Rwandan coffee shop started in the USA, Bourbon Coffee.

 

Marisa Way

 

Marisa Way plans to obtain an undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa in International Studies with an emphasis in African Studies, a degree in Interdepartmental Studies, and a certificate in Global Health Studies. With her degree in Interdepartmental Studies, Marisa is designing a major that combines human rights and creative writing as a way to explore art with a social conscious. She is particularly interested in human rights issues with a health or health care component, and is hoping to study abroad or intern at an organization that focuses on health-related issues in developing countries. After completing her undergraduate studies in 2013, Marisa wants to travel for a few years, either working in the Peace Corps or for an NGO in Africa, before returning to graduate school.

 

 

 

Ruxi Zhang

 

Ruxi is pursuing her undergraduate degree in International Studies with concentrations in Human Rights and Russian Studies at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota. Each summer Ruxi volunteers as a translator and an assistant event organizer at Beijing Institute for the Study of Christianity and Culture (China). From 2009 to 2010, Ruxi was a volunteer artist at The MT Space Multicultural Theatre (Canada), co-writing and performing dramas theming the life of new immigrants and refugees. She also raised funds for the impoverished Chinese girl children to support them receive education. By learning and taking actions during the 2011 summer delegation in Rwanda, Ruxi hopes to gain hands-on experience on human rights advocacy and activism, to increase her ability to identify problems as well as to work on the solutions. In the aftermath of the Rwandan delegation, Ruxi will take courses with deeper insights on human rights studies and to apply to graduate school after graduation. She plans to become a volunteer at American Refugee Committee and an intern at The Advocates for Human Rights in her sophomore and junior years. Later on, she hopes to devote in defending human rights in Asia and Africa.

January 2011 – LAC Participants

Kaitlyn Allen is a candidate for the Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where works as a research assistant to the program director. Her undergraduate major at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) was International Studies, and she completed semesters abroad in Brazil and Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua). She has worked as a legal caseworker in immigration legal aid/refugee resettlement agencies in Houston, and as a research professional at a medical school/hospital.  She also served as an elections observer in El Salvador (2009). She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the delegation and explore human rights issues on the ground,  and hopes to gain insight into local processes and mechanisms for justice, and psychosocial work/trauma healing as practiced in Rwanda. Kaitlyn loves foreign languages; she speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, and basic German.

Erin Anderson (MA, LPC, R-DMT, CMT), is a Dance/Movement Therapist in The Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, CO. She uses dance as a vehicle for activism, social change, healing, and community development. She has traveled in South Africa, Kenya and Puerto Rico as part of a self-designed undergraduate program with a focus on dance as both an interpersonal and cultural language. After the Rwandan genocide, she began focusing on refugee experiences of loss and identity. She choreographed a 30-minute performance piece about loss, leaving, and letting go, creating a unique healing experience for the participants. Since that time, she has worked with a variety of populations, including refugees, providing community opportunities to express and transform. She completed graduate school studies in Somatic Counseling/Psychology and Dance/Movement Therapy, mastering therapeutic skills to support her creative healing work. Erin looks forward to continuing her integration of Dance/Movement Therapy with her passion for advocacy, healing and change on a cross-cultural level.

Gisele Bahati is a 20 year old, first-year university student at the Akilah Institute for Women studying hospitality and leadership. She lives in Kigali with her aunt and 4 cousins because she was orphaned at a young age. She spent 2 months in the United States studying the American hospitality industry. She visited many places including New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Florida. During this trip, she made an appearance on the Daytime television show explaining aspects of hospitality in Rwanda. She also attended a speaker’s panel at Columbia University relating to education in Rwanda. She wants to participate with Global Youth Connect in order to expand her knowledge on human rights, especially as it relates to women.

Marcus Bushaku is aged 26 and he is a fourth year student at the Kigali Health Institute focusing on biomedical studies. He is a focal point of AJPRODHO at his institution where he advocates for issues pertaining to human rights violations. He works with the Youth Leaders for Tomorrow Project. He enjoys keeping up with current events and examining issues through the media. He intends to pursue further studies in South Africa studying immunology with a focus on HIV/AIDS. He is participating in GYC in order to broaden his understanding of human rights and how these are applied in society. He also wants to compare cross-cultural perspectives on human rights and how African conceptions of these rights differ from others.

Christine Calouro is a graduate student pursuing her Masters degree in International Relations at San Francisco State University. Focusing on conflict in the Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, she is interested in how the indoctrination of children into armed groups has affected the duration and escalation of violence against civilian populations in the region. Christine is also an assistant at the Consumer Federation of California, an organization that advocates for consumer friendly state legislation as well as helps defeat big business ballot propositions. By participating in the delegation to Rwanda she would like to better understand the role local NGOs play in ensuring people’s human rights are respected and how individuals can stay involved. Upon returning to the United States, she hopes to be accepted into a Ph.D. program that will enable her to continue her study of Central Africa.

Emily Campion is completing her Bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and music at Indiana University. While pursuing her degree, Emily volunteers at a local hospital assisting out-patients post-surgery and is an active member of STAND (a student led genocide intervention network), which is currently planning panel discussions and events aimed at educating the public on activities against human rights occurring in Rwanda, Iraq and other locations around the world. During the spring semester, 2010, Emily applied for and received permission to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland where her focus of learning was the Northern Ireland conflict. She spent the subsequent summer in Washington, DC interning at a small NGO called Alliance for Peacebuilding where she was asked to continue some remote work while back at IU for her final year of undergrad work. During the summer Emily also completed a foreign policy and international relations course at American University. She hopes her participation in the delegation will enhance her understanding of the conflict resolution process while simultaneously exposing her to the innerworkings of grassroots organizations in the field. Following graduation and her time in Rwanda, Emily plans on pursuing her Master’s degree in Ethics, Peace and Global Affairs at American University or studying at George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Emily hopes to one day be a voice for the voiceless and report on conflict from the inside.

Andrew Dusek hails from the small town of Havre, MT, and graduated with honors from The University of Montana in May 2010. He earned degrees in journalism and political science with an option in international relations and comparative politics, as well as a minor in history. He is currently finishing a second minor in international development studies as he completes the application process for service in the Peace Corps. Andrew has served as the president of his fraternity, written a weekly column for the student newspaper on national and international affairs, and served two terms as a senator for the student government. He was also an honors student and University Scholar. During the summer of 2009, he served as the press associate for the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in Washington, D.C., and traveled to Ireland and Northern Ireland to research the impact of the peace negotiations and Good Friday Agreement in January 2010. For his honors thesis, Andrew spent a year researching the human rights implications of humanitarian intervention within the context of the war in Kosovo and presented his findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. In the future, Andrew plans to pursue a graduate degree in international peace and conflict resolution and hopes to enter a career in diplomacy with the U.S. Foreign Service. He is very interested in international human rights and particularly hopes to learn more about the rights of children in post-conflict areas through the Global Youth Connect delegation to Rwanda.

Mark Edwards is a first-year graduate student at Seton Hall University pursuing a MA in Diplomacy and International Relations. Mark graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a BA in history with an emphasis on African studies. In particular, he has an interest in the Great Lakes region. Mark’s research has focused on how the Rwandan genocide has affected Rwanda and other countries in the Great Lakes region in the international arena. His bachelor’s thesis and senior project focused on rebel groups in the region and United Nations activity as a result of the genocide. Mark’s research and action in international politics comes from participating in Model United Nations, which he has been involved with for eleven years. After graduating from Seton Hall, Mark plans to work with the United Nations as a teacher in crisis areas.

Cassien Havugimana is aged 26 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the National University of Rwanda at Butare. Cassien is committed to service in the public health sector, participating in a number of workshops such as the Global Engagement Summit at Northwestern University, the Rwanda Village Concept Project in charge of HIV/AIDS awareness, and is currently the Regional Project officer in Africa of the International Pharmaceutical Student’s Federation. He is also the project coordinator of the Capacity Building, Opportunities, Management, and Exchange, which is a new organization dedicated to promoting adequate standards of living and creates opportunities for youth throughout Rwanda. As a healthcare professional, he wants to learn more about human rights activists in the public health sector. He also wants to learn more about human rights activities who live with HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. Human rights activities also relate to my clinical research as it relates to the health sector.

Josephine Kamarebe is 25 years old and holds a Bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine and community health from Kampala International University. She worked in the Kirembe Mine Missionary Hospital where she served as a junior clerk. She then worked in Bihinga hospital where she worked as a clinician working with pediatrics. She has also worked in Mbarara’s Psychiatry Hospital in Uganda. She is currently the focal point of HDI and is interested in the relationship between human rights and public health.

Joon Kim is currently a graduate student at Columbia University at the School of Social Work in New York City. He is specializing in social work policy and immigrant/refugee concentration. As a part-time worker, Joon will start working at Polaris Project, a non-profit organization combating human trafficking sex and modern day slavery, based in Newark, New Jersey. At work, he is excited to organize donations of clothes, books and resources made for victims of sex- trafficking and serve as a Korean translator to assist on-call Sex-Trafficking Assessment Team (STAT). In the summer of 2008, Joon made a voluntary trip to South Africa. and assisted HIV/AIDs patients with basic tasks such as bathing, feeding and errands. There, he also volunteered at local orphanages to fulfill duty as counselor and caregiver to orphaned children by providing comfort to those who had lost parents. After the trip, Joon’s passion for human rights in Africa grew exponentially. In the Rwanda program, Joon hopes to raise his understanding the way, which successful NGOs work, learn the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and to meet others who are passionate about this line of work.

Rachel Libros is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Peace Studies at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD.  This past summer, she interned with the American Friend’s Service Committee’s Africa Program in Philadelphia.  During her semester in Uganda and Rwanda in the spring of 2010, she conducted research on the role of the genocide memorials in Rwanda on genocide prevention and reconciliation.  As part of this study, she interviewed both survivors and perpetrators of the genocide, NGO workers, students, government officials, and Rwandan refugees in Uganda.  By participating in the delegation, Rachel hopes to continue to expand her knowledge of East Africa and begin to discover ways to transform this knowledge into action.  Rachel also hopes this experience will help her to begin to narrow and synthesize her personal and professional interests in anticipation of graduation.

Julia Lurie is currently a senior at Yale studying Political Science with a focus in International Studies. She has been interested in finding ways to better the lives of disadvantaged communities in developing countries for several years, and this interest developed further when she traveled to New Delhi during the summer of 2009 to work on an environmental justice campaign and teach English to elementary school students. Since then, she has taken a number of classes on international policy, education, and human rights, with an increasing focus on Africa. Since taking a class specifically on the Rwandan genocide, she has wanted to travel to Rwanda, learn more about on-the-ground activism efforts there, and learn how she could contribute to these efforts. Julia’s passions include playing violin and guitar, camping, traveling, and reading. She hopes to live and work abroad on bettering human rights through education after college, and is excited for the prospect of joining GYC in Rwanda.

Kevin Martin is a Senior at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing his degree in Government, History, and the Humanities Honors Program. Humanities is a student-designed degree culminating in a senior thesis. His degree emphasizes international relations, development, and conflict. His senior thesis analyzes conflict in the Balkans and Great Lakes Region in Central Africa. Kevin also participates in the Bridging Disciplines Program in international studies, Liberal Arts Honors, and the Junior Fellows program, which is a community composed of undergraduate researchers from a variety of disciplines. He also participated in Global Youth Connect’s Bosnia-Herzegovina summer 2010 delegation. Kevin hopes to build upon his experiences from Bosnia- Herzegovina regarding conflict transformation, social justice, direct service, and activism. After graduation, he plans to work abroad, either with the Peace Corps, United States Foreign Service, or teaching English.

Grace Mbabazi is a 23 year old, second-year student at the Kigali Health Institute studying general nursing. She is a member of the Orphans of Rwanda Initiative where she organizes conferences, assist in the admissions process at her university through providing scholarship resources, and she is currently a class representative at her institution. During her secondary school education at FAWE GIRLS, she advocated for gender equality issues and also assisted her classmates on attending conferences related to Gender Based Violence. In 5 years, she plans to be in England to pursue studies in pediatrics with a goal of helping to decrease infant mortality. She is interested in participating with the GYC delegation so she can broaden her understanding of human rights and how they relate to preserving these rights in society. She is also interested in a cross-cultural understanding of human rights and how their violations can be prevented.

Peace Muganwa is 25 years old student at the Akilah Institute for Women studying hospitality.  She has experience as an activist for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and works on a project for social change at her school. In this project, she taught youth about maintaining a healthy public image and be comfortable in new situations through confidence. Her long-term goal is to work abroad in Japan or Dubai to alleviate poverty. She wants to participate with Global Youth Connect because she wants to expand her knowledge on human rights. She is also interested in human rights as they relate to adopted children. From this knowledge, she wants to teach youth in her community about human rights.

Sulemani Muhirwa is a graduate degree in the School of Finance and Banking (SFB-MBURABUTURO-KIGALI/RWANDA) in the faculty of management specializing finance. His main concentrations are Unity and Reconciliation, peace, HIV/AIDS Prevention and poverty reduction not only in Rwanda but also in Great lakes Region. In 2002 during his secondary education, he was elected to be in the District committee of youth leaders. This committee had a task of promoting unity and reconciliation among people especially youth.  Efforts and different strategies were applied and used to establish the Unity and Reconciliation Clubs in communities. He has also been a member of anti-AIDS Clubs of youths had been established to promote HIV/AIDS Prevention.   Moreover,  M. Sulemani was in the committee that explained and promoted the Rwandan National Constitution during the 2003 elections. During this time, M. Sulemani was nominated to be one of the presidential elections organizers committee in District. He was also nominated to a committee of Anti Genocide Ideology in his District that has the task of encouraging Rwandans to fight against genocide ideology from politicians and others.  While he was at University, M. Sulemani had chance to be the Adventist Student Association for two years which gives him more leadership experience.  M. Sulemani has participated in different conferences, seminars and trainings while he was a youth leader in district. And he participated in the international seminars and conferences especially in the East African Community that gathered Universities student associations’ leaders from EAC.

Celestin (Zenthi) Muyombana is a 24 year old student at St. Lawrence University in Uganda studying Information Technology. He has worked with the organizations Barakabaho, Umwana Nkundi, and is the focal point for Uyisenga N’Imanzi.

Lyhotely Ndagijimana holds a Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences, department of Sociology from Kigali Independent University (ULK). He works at Kimisagara Youth Center as a coordinator of youth activities and organizer of workshops. He is the President and Legal Representative of ADBEF “Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Lasting Development and well-being family”, which is an association that advocates rights of marginalized people, especially the youth. He is joining this program in order to improve his knowledge, work experience, and gain new ideas. He is also interested in participating with GYC in order to exchange experience with other participants and to know more about human rights. He is patient and easily accessible by others. He tries not to discourage himself and enjoys the creative arts.

Priscilla Natukunda is a 23 year old, fourth-year student at the School of Finance and Banking in Kigali. After her experiences with the previous GYC delegation, she wants to expand her knowledge on how to preserve the human rights of others. Following participation during GYC’s summer 2009 delegation, she broadened her professional and personal opportunities through access to jobs and networks of people across Rwanda and North America. This experience taught her the value of activism and associating with similar people. She has experience with youth leadership in various districts throughout Rwanda with a focus on underprivileged groups. She has also worked as a translator for The Girl Hub. She is also director of vocational services at the ROTERACT Club S.F.B. She wants to participate in this current delegation in order to expand her knowledge of human rights and how individuals can achieve their rights and be treated as dignified humans.

Didaciene (Dida) Nibagwire is a 23 year old female who studies at the Kigali Liberal University in her last year studying economic sciences. She has worked at Alpha Computer as a maintenance worker. She works in the office of National Parks and Tourism of Rwanda as a customer care representative. She has also previously worked for the Rwanda Development Board in customer service. Currently, she is the focal point of ISHYO.

Manasseh Ntambara is 28 years old male who holds a degree in Electronics and Telecommunication engineering from the Kigali institute of Social Technology.  He has worked as the Rwandan United Nations Association branch of his Institute where he worked on the Millennium Development Goals. He also served as the Vice-Minister of social affairs at the KIST students association in 2006-2007 where he mentored and assisted students with any of their needs. He hopes to bring his enthusiasm for working with youth to enrich the cross-cultural experience of Global Youth Connect.

Melissa Schlichting graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 2008 with her Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English and International Development Studies. Following her studies, Melissa volunteered in Uganda and then received a CIDA- funded internship, working alongside Ugandan staff in a household water program. Since returning to Winnipeg, Melissa has continued to supplement her education with additional courses in Human Rights and Global Studies, focusing on transitional justice and the promotion of human rights. In her spare time, Melissa volunteers with refugee youth in two Winnipeg-based organizations, working as a mentor, teacher, and Funding Proposal Coordinator. Melissa is also engaged with the active promotion of the 2048 Project, advocating for an enforceable international agreement to safeguard human rights for all. From the Rwanda Delegation, Melissa wishes to gain valuable experience and insight into human rights abuses in an international context and what can be done to remedy them and how to prevent future abuses from occurring. Following her time in Rwanda, Melissa hopes to secure a position with a non-governmental organization in Sub-Saharan Africa that focuses on basic needs and human rights issues.

Morgan Springer is currently designing her own major at the University of Alabama which will focus on conflict resolution and the non-profit sector of sub-Saharan Africa in post-conflict communities. In the spring of 2010, she held a short term internship at a residential program for children who had been passed around the foster care system an abnormal amount of times, as a result of severe emotional and behavioral problems from physical and sexual abuse in their past. Morgan combined this experience with her work as a preschool teacher and camp counselor to concentrate her passion on working with children who had experienced trauma. By participating in the Rwandan program, Morgan plans on expanding her understanding of how grassroots organizations function and interact in Rwandan communities and of Rwandan culture. She intends on returning either to Rwanda or Uganda in the next two years to remain for a semester, spending the majority of her time on field work with local NGO’s. Following these experiences, Morgan hopes to live in Africa, applying the learning experiences she has accumulated to implementing positive changes in the lives of others through reconciliation and rehabilitation.

Bonaventure Tuyisenge is currently working as counselor Trainer Supervisor and Career Center Manager in Kigali Health Institute since 2007. After getting his first degree in School Psychology from National University of Rwanda (2004), he did a postgraduate certificate course in Professional Counseling with Regional Aids Training Network in collaboration with Kenya Association of Professional Counselors (2008) and a diploma in Project management with Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM). Thereafter, he pursued other courses in both professional and academic areas.  Bonaventure is interested in training and doing research in the fields of  Professional Counseling, Psychology, HIV/AIDS, stress and burnout management (currently is part time counselor support supervisor of VCT counselors of King Faycal Hospital-Kigali), Gender Based Violence and  implementation of Gender mainstreaming, health and human rights as well as career guidance and employability.

Bonaventure previously worked in schools as Deputy Headmaster and a teacher in an international French School. Currently, he uses both languages French and English in addition to his mother tongue, the Kinyarwanda.  Due to his ambition of managing people, Bonaventure was trained on Leadership competitiveness and prosperity by OTF-Group in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board (RDB).   He is a member of AJPRODHO-JIUKIRWA since 1998 when he was still doing his undergraduate Studies at NUR; he is also a member of Rwanda Men’s Resources Center (RWAMREC).  He is flexible, organized, and hardworking and goal achieving oriented man. Now, he is married with a wife and one son.

Zawadi (Zawey) Umuhoza graduated this year from the National University of Rwanda ( NUR) with her Bachelor in Arts with a degree in English with the option of Translation and Interpreting .  In 2009, Zawey participated in The Global Youth Connect workshop on Human rights as a focal point for a local organization known as CIMS focusing on land related conflict. In August 2010, she became a secretary for the GYC alumni. Zawey was selected at the country level as an action partner of Oxfam international Youth Partnership, which is supported by Oxfam Australia. In November 2010, she participated in the Kaleidoscope held in New Delhi.

Charles Uwayezu is a 26 year old student at the Kigali Liberal University studying economic sciences and management. He has worked in his District’s statistics and census office. He is the focal point for COPORWA. He is interested in increasing knowledge of human rights as it relates to the Potter’s community and other marginalized groups.

Tracy Verrier is pursuing a dual graduate degree in International Relations and Economics at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Her main concentrations are Negotiation and Conflict Resolution for her International Relations degree and Econometrics for her Economics degree. During the summer of 2007, Tracy volunteered as a teacher and child care provider at a school and orphanage near Nairobi, Kenya. This experience exposed her to an array of political and social injustices, which initiated her interest in human rights. Tracy hopes to work in the field of advocacy and research, particularly relating to women’ s and LGBT rights, after completing her degrees.

Gina Vorderstrasse – as a recent Washington, D.C. transplant – is pursuing graduate studies in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University. While focusing her studies in Refugee and Humanitarian Crises, she is also contributing to a research project on UN peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her most formative international experience was volunteering in South Africa with orphaned or abandoned HIV-positive children and with Zimbabwean refugees. After graduation, Gina plans to pursue work as an investigative foreign aid worker and in NGO management in Sub-Saharan Africa. She hopes that her experience in the human rights delegation will engage with her academic interests in identity politics and post-conflict reconstruction, while also addressing the practical aspects of peace-building.

Denice  Wilson is an Advocate for the Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit counties where she advocates for the rights of sexual assault survivors and their loved ones.  She holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology and one in criminal justice, from Wheeling Jesuit University.  She is currently a master’s level student at the University of Akron seeking a degree and licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy.  Her volunteer experience includes working with Appalachian Outreach, Inc., Packard Institute, Marshall County Mentoring Program, and Catholic Charities.  Denice is interested in the connections between individuals, family systems, and communities, recognizing that all human interaction happens in the context of the wider world.  Denice previously worked in the zoo field where she learned of the interconnection between quality of life, sustainable living, and the welfare of wildlife.  Through her experience in Rwanda, Denice hopes to gain knowledge of how to develop grassroots efforts to tackle the problems facing our global society as a means to advocate for present and future clients.

August ‘Arts for Peace’ Learning and Action Community Participants

Brittany Atchison hails from Northfield, MN and will graduate from Cornell College in May 2010 with majors in Politics and Ethnic Studies and a minor in Music.  Her interests include dialogue, development, and race and class issues.  At Cornell, she founded the student organization STEP (Students Together Eradicating Poverty), was President and Head Moderator of Sustained Dialogue, and wrote her honors thesis on the necessity of civic dialogue in the Kenyan truth and reconciliation process. Brittany is a PPIA (Public Policy and International Affairs) fellow and has held internships with the UN World Food Programme in Bolivia, Office of Senator Tom Harkin in Washington, D.C., and Bread for the World in Minneapolis, MN, and well as spending time internationally on three different continents.  Following graduation from Cornell, Brittany plans to establish her own nonprofit organization empowering underprivileged youth through dialogue, and she hopes to eventually pursue graduate studies in public policy and conflict resolution.  Brittany is thrilled to participate in her first GYC delegation and cannot wait to meet the rest of the team!

Vincent Bavakure is a student at the Kigali Institute of Education in Management.  He is 27 years old and Rwandese.  From 2007-2009, he assisted with income generation activities at COPORWA.  He has attended training in Kampala on “Rights and Research” of Potter women.  He also has training in project development, sustainability management, and community needs assessment.  He is fluent in English, French and Kinyarwanda.  He is interested in human rights issues because individuals cannot achieve their objectives without knowing their rights.  He plays football and is interested in preventing destructive conflict between communities/peoples.

 

 

Jessica Blair-Adraei is a mother of an 8 month old and a 3rd year student at Kent State University, majoring in Applied Conflict Management.  In 2006-2007, she volunteered in Israel and Palestine working with at-risk Palestinian Christian and Muslim families, co-managing a bookshop in Jerusalem, and developing international newsletters for a Palestinian-Christian organization.  Her interests include exploring various conflict-management methods and exploring creative and positive outlets for conflict stories.  She desires to learn from Rwandans about the reconciliation process, with the hopes of implementing that in other high-conflict societies.

 

Christina Clusiau is a photographer and visual artist with a passion for travel and human advocacy. She also has strong interests in youth development and human rights education and has worked on a number of projects that combine her interests in photographic art and human development. Christina graduated from The College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University in Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies and Peace Studies. In 2003 she received an Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship from The University of Minnesota’s Human Rights Center, which gave her the opportunity to travel to Thailand and work with Maryknoll Missions, teaching English to Buddhist monks. In Thailand, she also cared for HIV/AIDS patients and worked on issues of refugee resettlement.  Upon returning the United States, Christina worked with the U of M’s Human Rights Center as an education associate. There she helped to run a Human Rights Education Program that was being piloted in Minnesota Public Schools.  In 2005, she received her second Upper Midwest Human Right Fellowship, which took her to Greece to work with The International Institute of Peace Education. In Rhodes, Greece she ran a workshop around the implementation of Arts and Human Rights Education in public schools. She has also participated in educational service projects, while practicing photography, in China, Mexico, and Central America. In 2006, Christina moved to New York City to attend the International Center of Photography and to work as a freelance photographer.

Drea Cook is a 27-year-old student from Moorhead, Minnesota.  She will graduate in International Studies: diplomacy and Studio Art: photography and receive minor degrees in Art History and Norwegian from Minnesota State University Moorhead.  Her studies have been focused particularly in immigration and refugees.  She absolutely loves traveling and has studied at the University of Oslo in Norway and the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.  Upon graduation, Drea is looking at working a service year as a volunteer for Americorps.  She is passionate about social activism and is pursuing a lifelong commitment to the development of human rights.  She hopes to expand her education with a master’s degree in human rights development.  Because Drea has a background in art, she believes that this opportunity is a chance to bridge her two interests.  Drea has work experience with cameras, at libraries and in a greenhouse.  Living in Minnesota, Drea loves the outdoors in all seasons.  She enjoys camping, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, and building snowmen. She loves meeting new people and visiting new places.  But no matter where she goes, her camera and good spirit go with her.  Although Drea seeks adventure and new things, she best enjoys quite moments with good friends and a cup of tea.

 

Caitlin Decarie will finish her undergraduate degree in International Development and  Globalization at the University of Ottawa in May 2010. She has spent the last few years as a dedicated UNICEF volunteer. In September 2008, she created the first university newsletter which is sent to all UNICEF campus clubs across Canada. She also holds the positions of Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator for the U of O club. Caitlin has previously travelled to Africa in May 2009 as part of a Field Research course in Kenya. She had the opportunity to perform her own research and learn about Kenyan culture and politics through Kenyatta University outside of Nairobi. Upon graduating, she plans to continue her studies in the field of development, travel more throughout Africa and work for a Non-Governmental Organization at the grassroots level.

Amy Doherty is pursuing her graduate degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution focusing on human rights at American University in Washington, D.C.  In her spare time Amy works as a policy intern with the Enough Project and volunteers with American University’s Human Rights Council.  During her semester in Egypt in 2008 Amy volunteered with African refugees living in Cairo, working as an English and music instructor for children and adults.  By participating in the delegation Amy hopes to deepen her understanding of the role of grassroots human rights efforts in post-conflict countries.  Following her time in Rwanda and graduation, Amy hopes to volunteer with the Peace Corps and later work in the human rights field in the Middle East and Africa, specifically with refugees and internally displaced persons.

Davina Finn is going into the final year of her degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with a major in Life Sciences, minor in Psychology. She attended a specialized arts high school in Ottawa, Ontario for the dramatic arts program and graduated with a Fine Arts Certificate awarded with distinction. Davina has been actively involved on her University’s campus with multiple leadership roles within the student government as well as President of SHOUT, a national student-run organization focused on genocide awareness and education. Last year, she used her theatre training for a creative means of Holocaust education by producing and directing a local production of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She has also used theatre in the past by writing and developing children’s plays about bullying and touring local elementary schools performing and running workshops. Davina is extremely excited about combining her passion for human rights, education and performing arts in this program as well as the opportunity to engage in cross cultural communication and gain a deeper understanding of Rwandan history, culture, and the past and residual conflict.

 

Claire Gasamagera Tuyishime is 27, Christian and single.  She was born with HIV and lives positively.  She has been the head of her family of four since she was 17 and her parents died of AIDS.  She earned her degree in Food Technology from the Kigali Institute of Science in 2007.  Since 2003, she has been working as an anti-AIDS activist.  She has been fighting for the rights of people living with HIV and in 2006 she initiated and founded a local non-governmental organization – Kigali Hope Association – which has expanded into Rwanda Young Positive as it groups together all Rwandan youth infected and affected by HIV/AIDS regardless of their religion, ethnic group, or sexual orientation.  She is the head of this local NGO.  She is interested in this LAC as we will be talking about human rights and she hopes that human rights for PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) will be addressed too.  Also, she likes diversity of culture, religion, and thoughts.  She is a very flexible lady and hopes to meet as many youth as possible with different backgrounds and share with them their experiences, their voices, in order to make the world a better place to live in.

 

Jeremie Huot recently became a Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Canada upon graduating from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree. His practical experience includes working with the Anti-Violence Program at The 519 Church Community Centre to develop and facilitate a unique workshop for youth titled “SNAP!” (Stop it, Name it, Advocate, Participate!). The workshop provided youth with seven steps to become advocates against Homophobia. In addition, he has facilitated workshops with Teens, Educating and Confronting Homophobia (T.E.A.C.H.), worked as a camp counselor for New Star Children’s Theatre and served as the Public Relations Representative for Kiwanis Educated Youth (K.E.Y.). Jeremie has chosen to participate in the “Arts for Peace Delegation” because of his passion for theatre and his drive to promote and protect human rights. Ultimately, he hopes to learn from Rwandan youth how the genocide has affected them along with their perspectives on how to improve social conditions.

 

 

Emmanuel Irumva is a student at the High Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE Busogo).  At school, he participates in the boy scout movement as their chairman/chief, in the Student Club for Unity and Reconciliation as a committee advisor, in Gender Club and in UMUSARE theatre troop, also as a committee advisor.  He is committed to Unity and Reconciliation, Human Rights, and Justice.  Simply, he likes freedom and hates injustice.

He is a movie compositor, having recently made “Struggle in Campus” about the whole life in University, including student’s participation in development policy of the country.

He is also a football coach and his dream is to become the coach of the national team in 2016 to prepare for the 2018 World Cup.

To sum Emmanuel up, you can say that he is “a Christian, Rastaman, Boy Scout, Patriot and Sportif student.”

 

 

Mindy Johnston just finished her master’s degree in conflict resolution at Portland State University where she wrote a thesis about the role of music in community engagement and the positive ways it might be useful in conflict resolution.  She was inspired to pursue this field of study after working for many years in human services with abused and “at risk” youth and women, and after living in Indonesia during some crucial moments, including the first democratic elections in 1998, the devastation of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, and the Jogyakarta earthquake in 2006.  During the last few years Mindy got involved in a project called the African Diaspora Dialogue Project working to bring Portland’s refugee and immigrant communities together in dialogue to build stronger communities and establish mutual understanding and reconciliation between often contentious groups.  Before starting grad school Mindy lived in Java, Indonesia for 4 years studying traditional music (gamelan) with a renowned puppet master and musician there.  Mindy believes that art, as much as anything else, can be a tool for change and inspiration that creates bridges between people and improves our experiences in life.  She is also very interested in working inclusively and compassionately, and with cultural sensitivity with other people.  Because Mindy’s interests are rooted in conflict resolution, peace work and the arts, the opportunity to go with this delegation to Rwanda is extremely exciting and will not only deeply enrich Mindy’s life, but will also allow her to share her skills and knowledge.

Derek Jones will graduate from Berry College in Rome, GA in May with a degree in International Studies and History.  He will begin attending graduate school in the Fall, still awaiting several schools decisions, for his Masters in International Relations. He has volunteered at the Hospitality House for Women Domestic Violence Shelter in Rome, as well as worked with FADECO Radio in Karagwe, Tanzania during the summer of 2009.  Derek’s interest in the program comes from his past research about Rwanda, as well as his goal of working in sub-Saharan Africa after finishing school.  He hopes to use this experience in the future when he hopes to be working with refugees and others that have been touched by violence.

Erin Marie McDonald holds degrees from Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design and the College for Creative Studies and is currently completing post- baccalaureate studies in Sociology/Anthropology at Oakland University.  Throughout her education, she has developed a passion for creative and cultural community outreach in developing neighborhoods and cities.  In Detroit, she currently spends much of her time working at a non-profit historical pottery, Pewabic Pottery, and interning at an artist fellowship administration office, the Kresge Arts in Detroit.  She hopes Rwanda will be an opportunity to examine art as a tool of community development and conflict resolution across culture. In the future, she plans to complete a Master’s in Developmental Studies and continue working in with creative and cultural sectors in community and international development.

 

 

Roger Mugabe is a 23 year old student at the Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (INATEK), studying Economics.  Since 2007, he has worked at Partners in Health Rwanda (PIH) as an Electronic Medical Record System Data Officer.  PIH is an NGO that provides health and social justice in the Southern and Northern provinces. Roger also runs his own business – an internet cafe in Eastern province, Ngoma district – that he established in 2008.  Communication using internet was not developed there because there was only one internet cafe. This is his first year of university and he has begun thinking about peace building, art and entertainment.  He and his friends dream of gathering students from INATEK and other high schools and universities around Rwanda to build peace and community so that they will be able to help many people.  He is interested in meeting new people and helping the world to be connected as one.

 

 

Elise Musomandera is a 25 year old student at Kigali Independent University in 3^rd year Sociology.  She is a genocide survivor and lives in Kimironko in a village of orphans of the genocide. She likes hope, justice, peace and dislikes war, injustice, conflict and genocide. She hopes to continue her studies and get a Masters degree.  Her dream is to learn everyone’s human rights because if everyone knows human rights, they will protect, obey, and honour everyone and our world will be in peace.  She hopes to work with NGOs who help people who are suffering and to learn human rights.  She is against the genocide and its consequences and she will help NGOs and the children who suffer because of bad governance (bad politics) in Africa or the world in general.

 

 

Rose Mutamba is a 22 year old Rwandan in Senior Six.  She hopes to begin university next year.  She lives in Kigali and is currently working with Excel publishers (a bookshop) as a sales manager.  She was born in Uganda where she took her primary education.  Later, she came to Rwanda on her own for High School and University education.  It was her pleasure that her application to Global Youth Connect’s Learning and Action Community was accepted.  Her intention is to learn more about human rights and promises to use the knowledge and experience gained effectively.

 

 

Dida Nibagwire was born in Rwanda and is doing her third year in Economics at the Kigali Independent University.  She works with ISHYO Arts Centre as the Culture Project Management Assistant.  Since 2007, she has been working with Never Again Rwanda as a comedian and writer of theatre for Peace and Reconciliation plays.  She is very interested in conflict resolution through theatre.

 

 

Paul Ngabo is graduating from the Kigali Independent University with a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences.  His experience includes working with PSI Rwanda as a consultant in charge of transportation of health materials such as mosquito nets and condoms to PSI’s beneficiaries.  He also worked with UNAIDS as a consultant in charge of service monitoring for the 2008-2009 year.  He has participated in a UNAIDS human rights workshop focusing on the Rwandan parliament’s proposed Penal Code 225. He is a choir leader at his church (EENR) and is strongly engaged in human rights issues.  He wants to continue his education by pursuing a masters degree in human rights.

 

 

Philippe Ngabonziza is a Rwandan, born in 1984.  He works for RAPP (Rwandans Allied for Peace and Progress) as a Theatre and Peer Education trainer for the Behaviour Change and Social Marketing (BCSM) project.  He enjoys theatre and working with the community.  He is interested in participating in this workshop to gain knowledge on human rights which will help him in his personal life and he will help others to understand their rights.

 

Marthe Nyampundu is from the Northern Province and works at the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.  She will graduate from INES – Ruhengeri by the end of 2010 in Public Administration and Good Governance.  From 2007-2009, she worked on a project for youth living with HIV/AIDS as a social worker.  The program organized games with the children and youth so that they could forget about their problems.  The youth were also put together to create theatre groups, singing groups, etc.  From 2005-2010 she worked with on an American project called “Friends Peace House” where she trained people in and Alternative Violence Program.  From 2008 – present, she is a student representative who organizes competitions on many topics, such as conflict management, HIV/AIDS, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Celine O’Malley is an undergraduate at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She recently transferred from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, and spent the last year traveling in New Zealand and Europe as well as working at an elementary school as an art and drama afterschool instructor. Celine grew up in Chico, California and has always been interested and involved in the creative arts, from painting and collage to fiction, poetry writing, and film-making. Celine is especially interested in the intersection of the creative arts with healing on all levels, and as an effective tool for developing cross-cultural collaboration and understanding. She is currently pursuing studies in Peace,
Violence and the Creative Arts at Hampshire College.

Seong Park is an International Studies and Anthropology major at Macalester College, focusing on specifically Human Rights and Literature.  Having lived in the States, Russia, and Korea, and traveled to Latin America, Seong’s primary interest lies in studying and telling the narratives of those who have lived between borders, in transition, and through the kinds of violence prevalent in the 21st century. She has been serving immigrant, refugee, and asylee communities in Boston and the Twin Cities for the past couple of years and has been tutoring, mentoring, and befriending one too many adolescents since her early teen years.  She has also been keeping up with her long-time musical and artistic hobbies.  Seong is thrilled to team up with US and Rwandan enthusiasts to learn more about how community arts are being used by local NGOs in Rwanda to empower youths for restorative justice and more!

 

 

Eugene Ruawirorusa is a 26 year old student at the National University of Rwanda. He will graduate from the pharmacy program in October 2011.  For seven years, he has been an active member of a youth organization called ARDHO.  Since he began his studies at NUR, he has been a member of a student project called “Rwanda Village Concept Project” (RVCP), a national and international student organization that aims to improve the life standards of under privileged people living in rural areas.

Now, he is the head of an orphanage initiative called Let the Little Children Come to Me (LLCCM) which supports 105 orphans of HIV/AIDS.  In this role, he advocates for the children face-to-face with funders to provide school fees and materials, health insurance and other daily expenses.  The organization also conducts different training sessions that will increase the children’s capacity in solving different daily problems.

He looks forward to serving the community in this way even after graduation and he is excited to meet the youth from abroad in order to share cultures and views for a better and brighter future.

 

 

 

Mariette Utamuvuna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Humanities from the National University of Rwanda.  She is working for a local NGO called UMUSEKE based in Kigali which aims to sensitize young people about sustainable peace through different programs.  She is very attracted to everything related to peace and human rights, and she also has high regard for young people who are partisans of peace building and human rights because she believes that we are the future of peace and good leaders of the world.  She has a great desire to continue her studies in peace building so that she can support her country to reach real sustainable peace.  May peace be all over the world – amahoro, amani, boboto, shalom.

Rodrigue Uwimbabazi Pageau is 20 years old.  He did his primary school at Kanombe Primary School and his secondary school in Gitarama.  He studied human science at the secondary level. He hasn’t begun university yet, but hopes to by 2011.  He lost his parents during the 1994 genocide, but God have him a new mother who loves and cares for him.  She is Canadian, from Quebec and she was the one who changed his daily life and who made him who he is today.  She founded a non-profit organization and took him to Canada where he did a big tour of Canada and gave a spark to Canadian students about Rwanda. At the same time, he was raising awareness about the widows and orphans living in Avega Village. In 2009, he founded a forum of youth called the Visionaries Forum.  The objective of which is to promote peace using talents like dancing, singing and arts. This workshop will help him prepare for his future and also to know his rights and the rights of a human being.

 

 

 

Jessica Wolff is a rising sophomore at Tufts University in Medford, MA. She plans on double majoring in International Relations with a concentration in Development Economics and Peace and Justice Studies focusing on redevelopment and reconciliation in post-conflict Africa. She also hopes to graduate with a minor in Africa in the New World and Music. At Tufts, she works with a program called Peace Games, which fosters leadership and community building skills in elementary school students. She is currently interning with Save the Children and helping with the child sponsorship program. Music has been a central part of her life and that stems her interest in ethnomusicology and the role it can play in reconciliation. She is incredibly grateful for the chance to join this delegation so late in the summer and very excited to meet everyone and have the chance to observe and research post-conflict reconciliation in person!

July Human Rights Learning and Action Community Participants

Andrea Abramson graduated from American University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is currently working towards a Master of the Arts in International Studies with a concentration in Conflict Resolution at the University of Denver. Andrea spent several years working with the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education where she organized and co-led a five-week summer program for high school youth to Poland and Israel. This trip’s primary focus was on Jewish history as well as cultural immersion. Her passion for working with youth has sparked further endeavors in youth peacebuilding programs. Currently, Andrea interns at Seeking Common Ground, an organization whose goal is to empower youth in areas of regional conflict through peacebuilding and dialogue. Her experience at SCG has helped her gain new perspective on post conflict areas such as Ireland, South Africa, and current conflict regions like Israel and Palestine. She looks forward to the hands on experience she will receive as part of the 2010 July Rwanda delegation.

 

 

Shefali Aurora is originally from New Delhi, India but grew up in Cairo, Egypt and is currently living in Iowa. She is a second year undergraduate student at Grinnell College, where she is studying Political Science and Global Development. Shefali has an interest in human rights and international law and hopes to attend law school post Grinnell and pursue a career in international law and justice. Despite her previous travel experiences, Shefali feels Rwanda will be an extremely different experience, providing her with much room to learn and a challenge that she is ready for. She sees the Global Youth Connect program as an opportunity to break down the barrier between classroom knowledge of human rights and real world experience and looks forward to interacting with many new people through this program.

My knowledge of Rwanda is largely limited to a high school geography course, where we were taught about the genocide and the unstable living conditions that came as a result. We learned about Rwanda through a completely western lens and spoke of the genocide without any emotional connection for the value of life, as if it were just a common occurrence in history. We never learned about the beauty of Rwanda and the strength of the people there. (Shefali)

Pamela Boulware is from Fort Lawn, South Carolina. She received her bachelors degree in History from Lander University and she is currently working on her masters degree in Socio-cultural Anthropology at California State University, Los Angeles. She is interested in cultural transition and resettlement patterns after conflict. Pam has worked and participated in volunteer opportunities in Mexico, Nicaragua and around the U.S. all pertaining to conflict that has shaped society. After graduation she plans on entering into a doctoral program to continue her studies in Anthropology.

 

 

 

Erica Dismang is completing her first year as a Masters of Social Work (MSW) student at the University of Missouri in the Policy, Planning, and Administration track. She has volunteered with organizations in Haiti, Guatemala, and Mongolia, and is looking forward to the opportunity to do the same in Rwanda. Erica is particularly interested in human rights issues relating to women and children with a focus on human trafficking. She is thrilled about the human rights emphasis of the delegation, and cannot wait to begin working with others sharing a similar vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Fadiora grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and she came to the United States when she was eight years old. She developed an interest in human rights her senior year of high school while researching the Rwandan genocide for a history paper. This led her to a major in economics, a minor in Anthropology and a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies at Haverford College where she continued researching the genocide; participation in GYC Summer 2010 is an attempt to get her feet dirty and access primary empirical analysis. Alice is currently working on a thesis exploring human rights issues pertaining to the extraction of oil in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and is hoping to one day start an organization focused on the development of this region. Upon graduation, she will be working in investment management for a number of years before going on to Business School, but plans to find ways to cultivate her interests in human rights and social justice from a cross cultural perspective.

Emily Harmon is a freshman at the University of Iowa majoring in International Studies, with a minor in Anthropology.  Exploration into all the possibilities she can grasp with this major and education needs to be advanced.  Human rights are her passion, and discovering how to work for the realization and implementation of equality for all.  Her emphasis areas are in human rights and international relations  and politics.  She does not yet know if she wants to pursue an improved world through the desperately needed advancement of human rights with the international relations and politics approach.  But she does know that she needs to accept every opportunity to work for economic development, stability and peace, improved health, and the reduction of HIV/AIDs, which will in turn create a greater possibility for the humane treatment of all.  Emily is interning at a non-profit organization called the Iowa United Nations Association, a grassroots organization for a globally engaged Iowa.  Women’s rights must be realized for the rights of all to be realized, and she is working on advocacy for issues concerning women, such as urging U.S ratification of The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women and support of The International Violence Against Women Act.  She wants to be absorbed by the culture of every people, and work for the best treatment for all.  This has led her to believe that she wants to work for a NGO when she graduates, but she has also considered the Peace Corps or law school.  Rwanda is recovering from horrific devastation, but they are recovering; she wants to learn from and embrace these amazing people for an experience she knows she will cherish.

Traveling to get that unique experience of understanding is my passion, as is fighting for human rights.  You have to work to accomplish progress for what you believe in, and that fuels my actions.  – Emily

Jacob Kanagy is currently a junior at Eastern University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jacob is majoring in political science with a minor in sociology. Within political science Jacob is concentrating on international relations and foreign affairs. This past summer Jacob volunteered at Lutheran Christian Family Services, working with displaced refugees who had just arrived to the United States. Jacob has a great interest in humanitarian issues, international relations, and development issues. Jacob has spent a fair amount of time traveling internationally, which is one of the ways he developed his interest for humanitarian and international issues. Jacob is very excited to come to Rwanda and to deepen his knowledge and understanding of humanitarian issues.

 

Vicent KYAGABO is 23 years old and a first year student at the College of Education in the Faculty of Education, but majoring in entrepreneurship and business.  He works with Uyisenga N’Manzi and likes children, studying, travelling and making new friends. He dislikes people who create wars.

 

 

 

Damien MUPENZI is Rwandan by nationality, 24 years old, and is from the Kigali Institute of Education in his 3^rd year in the department of computer science.  He likes his country and even traveling (going out).

Yves NDASHIMYE is a 3^rd year student at a School of Finance and Banking, majoring in Accounting. His hobbies are watching movies and playing football. He dislikes lies and wars.

Frank NGOMA is 24 years old. He lives in Kigali and is a student pursuing a bachelor of business administration in finance, graduating next year. He likes making friends, and interacting, and is interested in human rights activism.

Adeline NIWEMUGENI is 22 years old, and a student at the National University of Rwanda. She is in 3^rd year and is taking Law. The things she likes best is to be busy with her friends, joke with them, share with them, she doesn’t like to be alone!  She likes to pray and doesn’t like to think much that she is an orphan.

Ildephonse NIYOMUGABO is a Rwandese who was born at Kabagali sector, Ruhango Distrct, South province. He studies engineering in the Faculty of Sciences for Development at the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi.  He likes peace and everyone who have respect of human dignity, he dislikes the war, marginalization and discrimination.   He works as an Assistant in the Department of Human Rights and development within COPORWA (Potters Community of Rwanda).   He is interested in Human Rights because he hopes to see everyone have the same equal rights after seeing the bad life conditions of CORPORWA’s beneficiaries who have suffered a long history of Human Rights violations. He is engage to be defender of Human Rights in order to make up for those Human Rights violations.

 

 

Claudette NIYONSHUTI lives in Rwanda, Kigali City, and she likes to joke with young people; she likes to watch movies, she likes music, kind of hip hop and she is committed to working with youth people.

I am sure that the information gained there will help me to promote awareness of human rights among Rwandese, especially youth through sensitization and community mobilization.

As Rwandese I will help my society to raise skills on social issues. – Claudette

 

 

Aloys NTEZIMANA is a student at the National University of Rwanda, Bacc. III Biology. He likes writing and reading as well as exploring others’ ideas. His favorite game is Karate and Jogging. He has been involved in youth issues for 3 years and have already reach some achievements (great).

R. Jane NYIRASANGWA

Dos: Praying time is very important for her, helping unable people, charting, telling stories, domestic work.

Donts: Poor management of time.

Stephanie Perrazone is a French student, living in New York and enrolled as an undergraduate at the City College of New York. She is currently double majoring in political science and international studies. Prior to her arrival in the US in September 2006, she studied history and political science in the Sorbonne in Paris for three years.  Stephanie lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for seven years as a child, and saw her life and her country falling apart in the early 1990s. Since then, Sub-Saharan Africa and its political and economic turmoil has always fascinated her, which led her to think about conflict resolution, human rights advocacy, post-conflict reconstruction, and crimes against humanity prevention. She travelled to Rwanda last summer to complete an internship and conduct some field research for her honors thesis  entitled: “dilemmas of reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda”. Stephanie hopes to get into a Master’s program in Geneva at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (http://graduateinstitute.ch/) specializing in post-conflict reconstruction and development. In the meantime, having worked intensely on the subject of Rwanda’s genocide and its aftermath, she hopes she will be of great help and value to the July GYC delegation.

 

Madeleine Randolet is a freshman at Alma College in Alma, Michigan.  She is planning on majoring in Foreign Service (like International Relations) and French.  She is half French, and lived in Switzerland for four and a half years.  On campus, Madeleine is involved in Model United Nations, which has really opened her eyes to the situations people experience today, and has helped shape her interests to human rights.  She is particularly interested in helping children, and believes that they should be helped as much as possible as they are the ones who can help the most in improving the future.  As a freshman her particular interests could change, however currently she is specifically interested in finding methods that improve the process of reintegration of child soldiers into society.  Madeleine is very excited and grateful to be attending the GYC Rwanda 2010 July delegation, as this will be the first very up close experience she will receive to addressing human rights issues.

Throughout this program I hope to understand more clearly what these people have suffered, how they have overcome, and what can be done to improve their situation.  I hope to become a part of their lives, learn about their culture, and bring all the knowledge I absorb back to share with those who do notunderstand and cannot experience firsthand. – Madeleine

Catherine UWIMANA, everyone calls her Kathi and she is 24 years old and a student at National University of Rwanda in Biology Department, Zoology & Conservation, 3^rd year. She is an environmental activist since 1999.  She is a very quiet girl and very curious, she loves to learn new things, travelling, discovering new things, she doesn’t like monotony; she appreciates a good sense of humor. Her hobbies are reading, movies, TV, cooking, long debates, internet, writing, DIY, drawing.  She has made some achievements in some domains related to youth issues and  management/biodiversity conservation. She is a strong supporter of the love & peace proclaimers and Paolo Coelho.

I believe that dialogues and good communication are the keys for peace because when you realize that we are the same, that we all suffer, we all need to love and be loved, we all need to understood, then it’s easier to look at the other as your “brother”, when you really realize that you fell that same even if your lives, your religions, your color, your social rank, etc. are different.  – Kathi

Luke Weinstein is an international affairs major at Lewis and Clark college in Portland, OR. He is twenty years old, an avid ultimate frisbee player, whitewater kayaker and a decent drummer. He has been lucky enough to already have traveled quite a bit, but could not be more excited about this Rwanda trip. Luke chose Rwanda because of his fascination with Africa and also due to the unique history of Rwanda. He loves the outdoors and often makes time to go on backpacking trips. He has studied a lot of history as well as human rights and found that he has a great desire to help those truly in need.

I hope to learn how to organize and actively engage local communities to empower themselves as well as gain a much deeper understanding of the relationship between foreign aid, the international community, and the local community in resolving or preventing conflict. I hope to bring both optimism and flexibility to the team as well as some basic knowledge gained from my studies. Most of all though I hope to bring to the team a humble yet enthusiastic yearning to learn and help others – Luke

Amy Williams is a law student at the University of Missouri. Her passion is to end violence against women, and she hopes to work creating public policy in the field of gender-based violence prevention. She currently serves as president of the board of directors for Global Issues Leadership Development (GILD) a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to teaching high school students about global human rights. She intends to use her experiences in Rwanda to expand her understanding of human rights concerns, and to share this information with the students she works with. Amy also volunteers at Boone County’s Women’s Shelter assisting women in crisis with filing emergency orders of protection. She is interested in helping survivors of violence navigate the legal system in order to obtain justice.

Abby Woodruff is a Junior at Claremont McKenna College, majoring in Government and Psychology. Her particular interests include civil liberties, public perceptions of government and participation in the political process. She spent the last semester interning for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), a division of the American Psychological Association that works to apply social scientific research to public policy issues. During the internship, she worked on issues ranging from immigration reform to gay rights to equitable adoption and to fairness in the military service. She hopes that her time in Rwanda will help her to learn about the development of human rights law in a different culture and government structure. After graduating, she plans on joining the Peace Corps or working for an NGO abroad for two years, and attending law school.

Kuo Yin is 19 years old. She was born in China and is currently studying in University of Alberta, Canada. She is a second year student majoring in Political Science and with a minor in International Studies. She will also receive a Certificate of Peace and Post-conflict Studies after she finishes her undergraduate degree. She is interested in international politics and wants to work for the UN. She speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese and she also takes French, Spanish and Japanese courses. She believes travel is meaningless if one cannot get in touch with the local community. She chose to come to Rwanda because it relates to her studies and she would like to expand her life experiences.