Name: Emily Blumenthal
Age: 18
Major: Pre-Business (International Business and Finance)
Why did you choose to go to Rwanda?
I read about the trip on Hillel’s website and knew it would be the perfect opportunity for me. I have been fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling but have never been to Africa. I truly think that volunteering while traveling is the most beneficial way to visit countries, for both the traveler and to give back to the community there. I also was really interested in the learning aspect of the trip and understanding the Rwandan genocide more.
What did you do in Rwanda?
It was a service-learning trip so we stayed in a youth village, Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, for teenagers that were orphaned before or during the Rwandan genocide. We volunteered in the village and also visited some museums.
Have you always had an interest in community service?
Yes. I enjoy giving back to my community at both a local and global level. In high school, I was very involved in Special Olympics and at UW, I am the 2011-2012 co-president for the Microfinance Leadership Initiative.
What types of activities did you do in Rwanda?
While there we worked on a construction project to create a meeting place for the village youth in the center of the village. We also spent a lot of time with the youth and volunteered along side them in neighboring village, Rubona. Additionally, we went to two genocide museums, one in Kigali and one in Murambi, to better learn about the genocide.
What were the living conditions like?
Inside the village the living conditions were incredible, the youth live in a house with four rooms. Each room has two bunk beds for four people and a bathroom, and there is another room for the house mother. Outside of the village, the houses in Rubona were mud houses but were actually quite large. It is very uncommon in Rwanda to have running water or electricity so the houses outside of the village did not have either, but in the village we had both!
What were the people like?
The people are absolutely the most incredible people I have ever met! I have done quite a bit of traveling and have never met people more kind and interested in talking to foreigners. They were genuinely interested in getting to know us and a lot of us formed very special relationships with the youth in the village.
Can you give me a brief history of what happened in Rwanda?
Rwanda has a very complex past. There have been issues between the Hutu and Tutsis for a very long time. However, in 1994, a civil war began in Rwanda where at least 800,000 Rwandans were killed. The group that was targeted during the genocide was the Tutsis, who made up 10% of the population. It was a very dark time in Rwanda’s past and the country is still trying to re-build itself.
What was your favorite memory of being in Rwanda?
I really can’t pinpoint one experience while in Rwanda – there were too many incredible moments! One of the most fantastic moments we had while there was a dance party we got to go to with the village youth. Another great moment I have of the trip is one time when we were walking back from a hike and there was a little kid following me. At first he wouldn’t talk to me but after a while he would skip and then eventually sing with me. A few minutes later, there were 10 kids surrounding me and we were all walking back singing together. Then all of a sudden I turned around and they were all singing “Waka Waka (This time for Africa),” the Official World Cup Song. We then stopped in the middle of the road and had a dance party – it was truly an incredible experience!
How did the trip impact your life?
It was an incredible experience and I feel so honored to have been a participant. I am definitely more interested in working with community development when I get older. Seeing ASYV work as well as it does and give back to its community inspires me to work in similar villages when I am older.
Do you ever plan on going back?
I hope I get the opportunity at some point to go back within the next year and a half so I see the same teenagers who I worked with when I was there (the first graduating class is next November).
How can people support/donate to the cause?
We are still fundraising for the Agahozo- Shalom Youth Village at:
http://hillel.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=431672&lis=1&kntae431672=D4E93BC5BB0141E0B2C8C565AC7B6611&team=4013381
and we are putting on some events to raise awareness, you can e-mail me if you want more information at ehb1313@comcast.net.
There is also a blog from our trip at: http://uwhillelrwanda.wordpress.com/