Barbara P. Bush, the
Founder of Global Health Corps, together with a group of 150 Young Fellows have
visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center as a way to learn from Rwandan
atrocities of 1994 and decide on good practices to avoid such atrocities to
happen elsewhere in the world.
The Health corps also donates
Rwf 1.350.000 to the memorial centre.
Global Health Corps
provides a yearlong paid fellowship for young professionals from diverse
backgrounds to serve on the frontlines of the fight for global health equity at
existing health organizations and government agencies. Fellows are currently
working in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and the United States.
Speaking to media shortly
after visiting the inside part of the Genocide Memorial Centre, Barbara said
“Many of Rwandans lived to genocide and they are able to see the positive and
reconcile and other people find humanity so that they can live happy life now
and I think it is suddenly to speak to atrocities to keep people realizing that
we should stand up whenever we see atrocities in the world so that this never
happen again and I believe the world can learn from Rwanda”
She said Rwanda is an inspiration
first of all for the unbelievable progress that has been made here and “I am
inspired by global health corps many of whom are Rwandans who want to use their
skills and energy and patience to make a better place and build a more powerful
health system and create programs that can impact lives positively.”
Meanwhile, Jean Rene
Shema, The Global Health Corps East Afica Program Manager and Rwanda Country
Representative told this website that “We are proud of having brought these
foreigners to visit the memorial centre. They have to learn our history as
Rwandans and in deep to learn about the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. On one
side this is our history as Rwandans and on another side this is the global
history so we have to know about that.”
The 1994 Genocide in
Rwanda has cost lives of over one million Tutsis who were murdered in a period
of 100 days.
Fred Chitau, a fellow
from Zambia, also told this website reporter that he is saddened by what he saw
in the Memorial Centre calling upon youth to uphold unity and not taking the same
position as that one that led to atrocities.
“I must say that what I
have seen here is very touching and I just imagined the people the energy they
had put in trying to kill other people if that energy could have been used in
order to help people that were suffering it could have been a major price.” He
said
“I would like to see
the team of youth taking different orientation thinking opposite to what
happened here and now trying to use that energy in order to provide services to
the people who need them”
“I could just say we
still touched about this we are still happy that it has come to an end and we
are looking forward to see this continue, the peace and harmony continue
because we are human beings we should care about each other. What affects me today
can affect other person tomorrow if we come together and support each other we
will grow as a better nation.” Chitau concluded.
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