We Act - Rwanda

Documentary time!

2010-11-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

Latin School Summer Programm Video!

2010-11-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

Latin School in Rwanda!

2010-08-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Linda just returned from Rwanda with Latin School students who spent two weeks there. They raised money to sponsor a summer camp for about 50 children and served as junior counselors at the program. They worked together with the Rwanda Youth Leadership group. The Latin School students bonded well with the campers and the Youth Leaders. They also spent time learning about Rwanda culture, history, the Genocide and the WE-ACTx programs.

They loved the mural we did on our previous trip.

They also went to the Kigali Freedom School and Claudette explained the program to all of them.

It is so great to see smiling familiar faces and that they had a great time.

To hear more about the trip you can read the Latin School twitter.
---> LatinInRwanda

Documentary trailer

2010-04-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is a trailer that was premiered at the Crossroads award ceremony.
Its about the Girls Exchange 2008. This is just a clip from what will be a 15 minute documentary.
Can not wait to see it all!

Seeds Of Change

2010-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Great news! Crossroads is honoring the WE-ACTx Girls Exchange. Hope to see you there!
(click on the image to see the details)

Potluck Photos!

2009-08-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from the farewell party.

Girls with their last host-mom.

Birthday Girl!

Hope more photos will come soon. :)

New Article!

2009-08-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Girls exchange was featured in a Sun-Times Article.
You can read it here!

POTLUCK!

2009-07-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED to meet (and bid farewell) to Claudette and Joselyne, the young Rwandan women whose summer exchange you have so strongly supported.

PLEASE JOIN US at the home of Linda Mellis, for a potluck dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 6 pm to celebrate the end of this year's exchange.

Claudette and Joselyne will be returning home on August 8 after a very successful six weeks of study and training at the Chicago Freedom School, and of experiencing our city and people. They will be continuing their work at the Kigali Freedom School that they helped create.

We hope you can join them, their host families, teachers, friends and supporters! RSVP if you can come. Please bring food and drink to share.

They are here! ;)

2009-07-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Claudette and Joselyne (her 15 year old friend) are in Chicago for
several weeks to attend the Freedom School.

We are so excited to see them!

Next week they will be moving to Georgeanne's house from where they are now. We
would like to arrange a get together between now and when they
leave on Aug 8.

Claudette and Joselyne are comming!

2009-06-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Claudette and Joselyne will be arriving in Chicago on June 26th. We can not wait to see them!

They will be staying at the host families, so we are making arrangements to see them there at some point.Thanks Beth who helped with host family coordination.:)

Girls will have busy weekdays during the day participating at the Chicago Freedom School.

Message from Mardge

2009-06-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and supporters,

Five years ago during a conversation with the Minister of Health of Rwanda, I was struck by the contrast of the matching socks, tie and handkerchief worn by this attentive physician, and our experience in the clinic where the women patients had no underpants. We budgeted money for underpants and added their distribution to the gynecology protocols for abnormal pap smears or exams.

It is now 2009, and Rwanda and WE-ACTx have changed significantly in these 5 years: over 1700 WE-ACTx patients take effective antiretroviral medications daily; 270 children with HIV play at our weekly WE-ACTx Sunday support group; Rwanda boasts that 70% of pregnant HIV infected women take prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission (one of the highest rates in Africa where most countries have only 20% uptake of perinatal HIV prophylaxis). Many more streets are paved in Kigali and there are new muzungo restaurants serving middle eastern food. Yet, each week Anne Marie Bamukunde, the recently hired WE-ACTx psychiatric nurse appeals for funds for patients to buy underpants or some food prior to prescribing anti depressants for those referred to her.. She told me this week that in all her previous work in Rwanda she had never seen families with so many needs and vulnerabilities until she came to work at WE-ACTx. This is the refrain that we continue to hear, echoing Dr. Jonathan Mann’s words on human rights and social determinants of health from two decades ago “No matter how and in whom it starts, HIV always finds the most vulnerable in any country.”

But we are responding. On June 16, 2009, over 400 children with HIV and their families attended our 4th annual celebration of Day of the African Child (DAC) (commemoration of the 1976 child uprising in Soweto against apartheid). We were lucky to have volunteers helping us from Israel, Canada, and the U.S. The program included traditional dancing by the WE-ACTx dance troop, singing by WE-ACTx rock star Noah Mushimiyimana (http://www.apple.com/itunes/top-100/songs/noah-mushimiyimana/worlds-greatest-american-idol-charity-song/), speeches by local leaders and ministers and the U.S, ambassador to Rwanda. There was a large buffet lunch. Even though it took hours to serve everyone, no one really minded or wanted to go home afterwards. Our annual WE-ACTx celebration of this Africa-wide holiday was extensively covered in the local Rwandan media.

We also have seen growth of our monthly food supplement program (SOSOMA) for children on antiretroviral medications which now serves 169 children and their families. And thanks to some special donors, all these children also have fees and uniforms to attend school.

Our PMTCT (prevention of maternal to child transmission) program at Nyacyonga clinic is going well. Irene, the trauma counselor facilitates the weekly post partum group for women with HIV who have taken antiretroviral medications during pregnancy. Only one child in this group is infected. These women and families continue to need support. Here Irene is distributing children’s clothes sent by the family of one of our interns. Irene is also starting an income generation program with 30 of these mothers who have bonded together to deal with high food and transport prices. Epiphanie, the peer educator, seems stronger and more confident each time I come to visit. Here she is using the Kinyarwandan version of the HIV counseling and testing flipchart to explain the importance of getting tested for HIV during pregnancy and the best ways to prevent HIV and other sexually tramsmitted diseases. Some of you will remember when we first used this flip chart (in English) at Cook County Hospital and other hospitals in 1999.

We’ve made a major change related to the other 2 WE-ACTx clinics. We are consolidating the Icyuzuzo and Centre Ville Clinics into one clinic at Centre Ville with the conclusion of two large donor grants this year. This is really the first time we’ve had to cut back on WE-ACTx work in Kigali. It has been very difficult of course, as the association that housed the clinic will lose this activity. In terms of patient care, all patients will continue to receive at Center Ville, though it will be more crowded and space for some support groups will be lost. Some staff will lose their jobs, though most have found other related work based on the training and skills they have acquired working with WE-ACTx.

We have thought long and hard about this necessary consolidation. We realize that the Rwandan public health infrastructure is committed to providing antiretroviral medications to people with HIV here, so the emergency need we responded to 5 years ago has been somewhat eased. But we have learned that there is a major gap that still needs to be filled—providing a woman-, youth- and family-centered program which is particularly sensitive to and addresses the mental health concerns, psychosocial needs and other health problems facing Rwandans with HIV. This is the need we hope to continue to address at Centre Ville, with your continued help and support.

We are making interesting and valuable headway integrating psychosocial support and legal issues into our health care program. Working with Kigali Health Institute nursing school we have introduced a screening tool for domestic violence. We’re finding that nearly two thirds of women screen positive (unrelated to the genocide to domestic violence), reporting physical, sexual or emotional abuse. For many, this trauma has occurred in the past year. If a woman reports abuse she is referred to our weekly WE-ACTx support group which is staffed by our legal team, trauma counselors and peers. Some of the scenarios that the trauma counselors and legal team find most difficult are when women have nowhere else to go to escape the abusive relationship or if women are very ill they may decide they are too weak to leave and stay with their husband. Also, HIV stigma, fear, poverty and family difficulties all combine to challenge the property rights of women who are widowed, even if the laws might protect them. WE-ACTx is working with others in Rwanda to begin to address these aspects of gender based violence.

Each time I come to Rwanda I am impressed that the issues that led to the genocide—colonialism and the economic, political and racial tensions as Hutus and Tustis struggle to eek out a living on this tiny overpopulated bit of geography-- continue to bubble not far from the surface. Continuing WE-ACTx work here to address HIV in this wider context is extremely important and difficult. Of course I am also worried about our financial situation at this time. It is a very hard economic time, and seeing its impact trickle down to so many here, who had so little to start with, is devastating. But I am also in awe of the Rwandan staff’s commitment and kindness to forge ahead to ensure quality care and dignity and I am further moved by the many volunteers and supporters WE-ACTx has attracted. Right now, a group of Chicagoans are hosting 2 young women who will attend the Chicago Freedom School’s Leadership Development Program, an extension of last summer’s Girls’ Exchange. This summer, in Kigali, there are 2 phenomenal yoga instructors (from Finland and England), a Canadian computer helper, a Canadian public health student, and 3 U.S. volunteers working on a youth leadership and empowerment program for 40 young WE-ACTx patients. We’ve had visitors from the U.S. and Israel learning more about our work and assisting us. We all come away motivated to make a difference here. Hopefully we can draw on the reserve of energy, goodwill, volunteerism, innovative ideas, resources, and willingness to fight for real change on both sides of the world to see our way forward.

Mardge

Doll Shop!!!

2009-06-08T12:31:00.001-07:00

FINALLY!

Now there is place online where people of interest can go and purchase the Rwanda Dolls!

Come, check it out & please forward the link to EVERYONE!

WWW.WEACTRWANDA.ETSY.COM

Hopefully more merch will be added soon!

Recap of the fundraiser!

2009-06-04T19:45:00.001-07:00

People were having a great time at the fundraiser! So much fun - that there was not much time to take photos. :D But here is a taste of the great event!

Thanks to Liz for the great help!

And here's Linda with the wonderful hostess!

Support tomorrow's activists!

2009-05-31T09:07:00.001-07:00

Fundraiser - TONIGHT!

In 2008, WE-ACTx Girls Exchange ambassadors met with the Chicago Freedom School, inspiring the creation of the Kigali Freedom School, now up and running! Two young women from Kigali will come to Chicago to train and build skills at the Chicago Freedom School this summer.

This will help supporting their efforts!

Photos to come...

Lindblom's making a difference

2009-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Jan. 14, 2009 - AIDS awareness day and chicken wing eating contest to raise money for WE-ACTx.

Our own Jamillah and Nathan Diamond, sponsor of the group

A lot of fun for a great cause.

Student AIDS awareness Art work

CHICAGO FREEDOM SCHOOL--WE-ACTx ALLIANCE

2009-05-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Freedom School (CFS), the Kigali Freedom School (KFS) and Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx) have formed an alliance to further the goals of all three organizations by establishing connections and cooperation between the three organizations. Initially, the two schools would establish Internet connections to learn more about each other as individuals and the goals of each program. Next, there would be exchanges for students to attend the two schools. We envision two students from Kigali participating in the CFS Summer Leadership Institute as Freedom Fellows during the summer of 2009. The following summer, students from the CFS would travel to Kigali to continue this collaboration and focus on global youth activism

Special segment on TV

2008-12-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

December 2nd, Chanel 7 10PM news - Cheryl Burton did a wonderful report about the Rwanda Doll Project and our exchange trip.

You can see the video and read the accompanying article HERE.

Welcome dinner Chicago.

2008-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

We just retrieved more photos from the welcome dinner.

Big THANKS to Emily Grimes who took these photos.
You can check out more - here!

Freedom school Rwanda!

2008-09-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Claudette has started a Freedom school in Rwanda. Check out her blog!

www.kigalifreedomschool.blogspot.com

Media Coverage

2008-08-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=139&ArticleID=5695&TM=60380.1

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/lifestyles/currents/1102044,ev-rwanda-081408-s1.article

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rwanda-girls-30-jul30,0,4639385.story

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/1088070,CST-NWS-rwanda03.article#

http://chicagopublicradio.org/Program_848.aspx?episode=26914

Our story starts at about 00:23:20.

Good bye!

2008-08-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

In the morning people got to finally spend some time with the host families. Others chose to visit a local Chicago church. Two of the Rwandan girls even got baptized.

Farewell

Later we all met at Beth and Horace's (one of the host families) house for a farewell lunch. This was our last meal together. We could not believe this was the last day and our journey together had come to an end.

Goodbye

After the lunch, we all went to our host families' houses to do our final packing. We met at the airport at 7PM.
The Rwandan girls took the same flight the Chicagoans took on their way to Rwanda.

We had to repack a couple of suitcases because they went over the weight limit. We used all possible means! :D

But these were not actual goodbyes. We just said "see you later" because we promised to keep in touch and meet all together again some time soon. ;)

Chicago - Day 6

2008-08-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Brunch at Signature Room

We had an amazing buffet-style brunch at the top of the John Hancock Building.

We also said a BIG thank-you and good-bye to Dr. Mardge, because tomorrow she is leaving for Mexico City to attend the International AIDS Conference. We presented her with a hand-made card with thanks and greetings from everyone in the group.

Soccer

Soccer is the most popular sport in Rwanda, so we thought it would be especially exciting for the Rwandan girls to see a soccer game while in Chicago. We saw the
Chicago Fire vs. Chivas USA, from Los Angeles.

Thanks to our fiery support, the Chicago Fire of course won!
Let's hope no one loses their voice tomorrow. ;)

Chicago - Day 5

2008-08-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Freedom School

We all met with teens from The Freedom School for a chance to interact with youth from Chicago. We introduced our group and described what WE-ACTx does. In return we learned more about The Freedom School.

The Chicago Freedom School provides a space where young people and adult allies can study the work of past social justice movements, deepen their understanding of social problems, build new coalitions and develop strategies for change. They support new generations of young people who use their unique experiences and power to create a more just world.

Our group opened the discussion by asking questions about their experience. Later the Freedom School students had plenty of their own questions about our Chicago-Kigali Girls Exchange and Rwanda. Afterwards we had a quick lunch. Then we had small group discussions and time to reflect.
We also had to say the official goodbye to Latrice and Yonetta because they had to leave for college-related activities the next day.

Boat Trip

Later on, we took a walk on the Magnificent Mile to our next destination - a boat. The boat ride took us on the Chicago River through downtown, and also into the Lake Michigan so that we all could see the unique skyline of Chicago.

Some were very excited.

Others were too tired for excitement :D

Evanston

Then we all took the CTA Purple Line north to Evanston. The Rwandan girls had never been on a train that goes underground. So this was very exciting.
We went to a Lou Malnati's, a wonderful pizza place where we got to taste delicious Chicago-style deep dish pizza once again. And an ice cream dessert was a wonderful ending to this meal.

After that we went to Bill's Blues Club where we heard some authentic blues music. Some danced, some not - but we all had fun. After about an hour we all went our separate ways to get prepared for our last day together. :(

Chicago - Day 4

2008-07-31T22:56:00.000-07:00

Shopping

In the morning we all met at a thrift store called DISCOUNT VILLAGE. The Rwandan girls were given some spending money, and they bought shoes, tops, bottoms and purses as gifts and for themselves. The group leaders bought a few suitcases for them to bring their haul back home.

CORE Center

Then it was time to go to The CORE Center. First we ate some lunch. And then we showed the Rwandan girls the mural that we already had started here in Chicago. Doing the second mural came much easier. Not just because we already finished one in Rwanda, but the mural at The CORE Center is a bit smaller and we also had all the tools that we needed. And even if we had a little crisis, we could go to the store and get what we needed.
Many media outlets came and interviewed us, as well.

Rain
That evening we were scheduled to go to Summer Dance in Millennium Park. But it would not have been a real Chicago experience if we would not have had any weather delays during this trip. It was raining pretty hard. While waiting for the rain to stop and figure out what to do next - we all sat down together to chat and get the air out of a few soccer balls for the girls to bring back to Kigali.

Lake
Later we decided to skip the Summer Dance and we went to Dr. Mardge's house to have some dinner and relaxing time together. When the rain stopped we went to the lake. The Rwandan girls were pleasantly surprised to see how beautiful Lake Michigan is. Quite a few of us took a nice and refreshing dip in the water.

Chicago - Day 3

2008-07-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

Shedd

In the morning we all met by the beautiful gardens next to the group entrance of the Shedd Aquarium. First we watched the dolphin show all together and then we had some free time to explore the aquarium with our pen pals. We saw the Caribbean Reef, lizards, penguins, Beluga whales and many other sea creatures. At the end we explored the souvenir shop until everyone gathered together for our next adventure of the day.

Northbrook

Our next stop was Northbrook Court Mall. We were divided between a handful of cars and we were on our way. Some people got there on time, some got a bit lost and were a bit late. But everyone ultimately arrived at the DiPescara restaurant for a wonderful lunch. After pasta, chicken marinara and finally ice cream for dessert we were on our way to the tour of the mall. First we stopped at Flash Digital Portraits where we all got photographed as individuals and as a group. Then we went to Aveda where we got some relaxation tips and free gift bags. We also were warmly welcomed by the staff of Stuart Weitzman. They gave each of us a fabulous pair of flip flops. But the biggest surprise of all was the incredible gift bags that each of us received at the end of the tour. We got SO MANY GOODIES!!! ;) Just to name a few things - we got a Juicy Couture key chain, a pink Coach wallet, a Teavana tea set, wonderful products from Sephora, some Ralph Lauren lotion, a Lucky Brand Jeans tote... We all were on the verge of crying from happiness!!! :)

Dinner

After having the best time ever at Northbrook Court we were on our way to Bonnie Lubin's house that was not far away. After a snack we had some time to talk and reflect on what this journey has meant to us. The discussion turned out to be quite emotional, to say the least. I think that talk changed all of us and we became much closer. Then we had a wonderful dinner all together around a big table. Later we had s'mores by the fire pit. Making s'mores was quite an experience for the Rwandans.

Chicago - Day 2

2008-07-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

Official greeting

The day started at the Chicago Cultural Center where we were greeted by representatives from Mayor Richard Daley's office, After School Matters and other civic institutions. Each girl received an official City of Chicago Resolution presented by Alderman Vi Daley, signed by the Mayor and the City Clerk. After the official welcome, Miriam gave all of us a quick tour of the beautiful Cultural Center.

Gallery 37

Then we walked across the street to Gallery 37 were we had planned to have lunch. We went down to the basement to meet Sonja's sister who is ateacher in the culinary department of After School Matters this summer. We tried to help out with things that needed to be done in the kitchen, but after a while it was obvious it would be better to leave the cooking to the professionals. So we had a tour of gallery and all the programs they have this summer. We saw the photography and printmaking department, we heard wonderful songs from the singing department and we visited the dancers as well. Since we were on a tight schedule we did not get to see everything that Gallery 37 has to offer. So it was time for lunch. We went to the patio and had hot dogs, bratwursts, hamburgers and deep dish pizza with cookies for dessert. Real Chicago food!
We had a surprise visit from Mayor Daley's wife, the First Lady of Chicago. She was very kind and talked to all the girls and welcomed them to Chicago. Maggie Daley is no stranger to Gallery 37 and After School Matters. She visits the programs and students every year.

Art Institute

After lunch we had a quick discussion about how all the girls are feeling in Chicago and how the experience has been so far. Then we walked to the Art Institute where we had a guided tour of American art by a friend of Miriam's - Phyllis Neiman. She was the nicest person ever. On our way out we walked through an exhibit of artifacts from Nigeria.

Millennium Park

Then we took a little break at Millennium Park. We cooled off by the Crown Fountain while little kids were running around and splashing in the water recklessly. We took tons of photos by the Cloud Gate (The Bean). And Miriam told us a little bit about the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Welcome dinner

After a short drive in cars or taxis, we arrived at The Latin School for a welcome dinner. At 7 pm, family and friends of the Chicagoans started arriving. There were many guests and supporters there, thanks to many of whom this trip was made possible. We had some food and then the ceremony began. All the girls were wearing traditional Rwandan outfits. We introduced ourselves and danced the Rwandan cow dance, which was followed by the Cha-Cha Slide.

Chicago - Day 1

2008-07-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Double Decker Bus Tour

We all met at The Field Museum. As soon as the bus arrived we went up to the second level right away. Our first stop was Navy Pier. All of us girls were so excited about the Ferris Wheel and seeing wonderful Lake Michigan full of sailboats, from up so high. The Rwandan girls were mesmerized by Chicago's architecture. Many of them had never seen a skyscraper before. We took a ride down Michigan Avenue and our next stop was Water Tower Place. We got off to visit the Hershey’s store nearby. We all know how much Rwandans love chocolate! Our tour tickets contained different coupons. One of them offered a free Hershey’s chocolate bar without any purchase. Yum! We also saw the John Hancock Center, admired the Sears Tower and we got off at Millennium Park next. There we visited the Park Shop where we used another coupon and got either a free t-shirt or a cap. We rode through The Theatre District, passed The Art Institute and returned to The Field Museum.

The CORE Center

Then everyone got into separate cars and drove to The CORE Center. After we ate lunch catered by Wishbone, we continued our work on the mosaic mural there. This was the first time the Rwandan girls saw the place where the mural would be located in Chicago. Since we already had started it before we left for Rwanda and the mural here is a bit smaller – there was less anxiety. After finishing the mural in Rwanda all the girls felt like experienced mural artists and finishing another mural in one week did not seem impossible.

Lillie Ann’s SPA

After a hard day of work and a long flight we were all glad to find out that Sonja had prepared a very relaxing surprise. We all went to meet her friend Lillie Ann who owns a therapeutic massage and stress reduction center. Each of us got a 10-minute massage that felt divine and we also learned how to relax our mind and body after the stresses of everyday life.

Rwanda – Day 6

2008-07-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Market

We visited a local market to buy some groceries to be able to cook a traditional African meal for the welcome dinner at Félicité's house. The market in Rwanda is more like a farmers market in Chicago. Except for the chickens. They sell live chickens at the market (about $8 - depending on how good a bargainer you are! :D). The customer chooses a chicken and then it is killed. Live chickens are cheaper, because all the plucking and cutting is done later by the customer. Latrice and Yonetta ended up saving a chicken. They bought a live one and took it to Henrietta's house where it would live with a couple of hens she already had. We all petted the chicken and held it in our laps - locals were laughing at us because they don't usually pet their dinner. ;)

Welcome Dinner

When got to Félicité's house, each of us was assigned a task. Some made the salads, some made fish or chicken. It took a couple of hours for the meal to be prepared. At about 4 PM friends and relatives of the Rwandan girls started to arrive. When the official welcome started we introduced ourselves and our pen pals and we did a runway show with our wonderful new African dresses. Than we did the traditional Rwandan dance about the cows in traditional gowns that were rented. And the Chicagoans sang a song about family. Kigali girls danced again and we later joined with all the family members.

We also surprised Linda with a birthday cake that Henrietta made. Everybody sang Happy Birthday in 3 languages! ;)

Dancing (or not).

Then we were ready to go out and have even more fun. But that didn't last for long. A couple of the Rwandan girls were underage. And when finally it was decided that just some of us would go, we all got carded and the fun night was all done.

Tag Rwandan's Turn

2008-07-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Maraho {Hello},

Today after an thirty hour flight everyone in the We ACtx exchange program have made it to their destinations. Everyone is living with host families around the city. As soon as the Rwandan Girls and Chicago Girls went through customs many of the girls were interviewed by a representative of ABC news chanel 7. This would not be the first time this We ACTx exchange program in the spotlight. The first time the girls were on camera it was only the chicago girls waiting for the departure at O'Hare on July 18. The second time was in Kigali,Rwanda there the all members of the We Act x exchange program were giving an offering in respect to the genoside memorial. So look forward to seeing the We Act girls in your local media.

During the second week of the Chicago-Kigali We Act Exchange program the Rwandan will be able to live as though they are Chicagoans. For the next week Rwandans will have a basic tour of the chicago land and recieve the benefits of extraordinary people.

WE Act Exchange

Getting to Chicago.

2008-07-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

Getting back to the United States was more complicated and grueling than getting to Kigali. The bus came to pick everyone up more than an hour too late. But somehow we still got to the airport on time. Family and friends of the Rwandan girls came to say good bye and bon voyage to everyone. We said thanks to our guides and our bus driver and were on our way to get our boarding passes. In Rwanda people are never in hurry, so it took quite a log time for everyone to even get through the line. Somehow Liz and Ketija and one of the Rwandan chaperones were the last ones from the group to get to the booth and we came to find out that the flight had been overbooked and there were no more seats available. The plane was ready for take off but the whole group wasn't able to board. So Linda, Mardge and Félicité were running around and doing everything possible to get us on the same flight. Thanks to their determination Liz and Ketija got on the plane! Unfortunately Félicité did not get on the flight. She had to take the next flight that was the next day.

After the first leg of our flight, everyone was happy to land in Nairobi. This was the first airplane flight for many of the Rwandan girls, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. In the airport we had a few hours until our next flight so we had some free time. The Chicagoans did some more souvenir shopping. We also had a group discussion about our experience in Rwanda and what we anticipate in Chicago.

Our flight to Paris seemed long but comfortable enough. Again, we spent quite a few hours in the airport. For lunch the Americans were craving some MacDonald's, so that became our next destination. But for us to get there, we had to technically leave the airport, even if the MacDonald's was on the airport grounds, so the Rwandan girls could not come with us because they did not have a visa. But they had a wonderful dinner at a café near by our departure gate.
Our plane to Chicago was delayed. And again we had some boarding pass trouble that eventually was solved. The flight back was longer than on our way to Kigali because of the Eastern winds. Eventually we arrived in Chicago, where we were greeted by some relatives and our wonderful host families.

Rwanda – Day 5

2008-07-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

Akagera

Today we had to wake up at about 4 AM because we were leaving to see the Akagera National Park. It was about a 2-hour drive and apparently there are more animals to see in the morning hours. We got to the park, and paid for the guide who got on our bus with us and we were on our way.

First we saw many species of antelopes.

Later we saw a family of giraffes and we were able to get really close to them. I was surprised that the animals didn’t seem to be disturbed by us. Most animals just went on with what they were doing. We sat in the bus and could not walk out under any circumstances because that could scare away the animals or a situation could evolve that would be dangerous to us. We also had to keep quiet so as to not scare any of the animals away.

On our way to the next location we saw a baboon family, more antelopes and a few birds.
Later we drove to the lakefront of the park. We saw a fishing village where people still live and earn their living by fishing.
At that point the guide received a message on her walkie-talkie that another guide had noticed an elephant somewhere near by. “Near by” wasn’t near at all. It took us about hour and a half on a bumpy road to get to the place were the elephant was sighted. We were located right near the lakefront. We even saw some hippos in the lake and on the far shore. Then around the corner we could spot an elephant munching on some leaves for lunch. We did not get any closer, so we did not see it really close up.
Our guide told us that they also have lions but it is really rare that any tourists get to see them because they move around during the night when it’s dark.
Then we had to rush back because the elephant hunting took much more time than expected. We grabbed our lunch at a café and ate it on the bus.

First Lady

Our appointment with the president’s wife was scheduled for 3 PM. But because of the delay in the park we were about 30 minutes late. This was definitely not the event to be late for! But we had the pleasure of meeting the First Lady's Association delegates. They explained more about the work that the First Lady is doing, like her Imbutu Foundation. The Imbutu Foundation's programs focus on socio-economic development for the most vulnerable communities, with special focus on education, health access, economic- and self-empowerment. Dr. Mardge explained more about WE-ACTx to them. After this meeting both parties expressed interest in collaborating in the future.
During this visit we also learned that Rwanda's Constitution requires that at least 30 percent of the parliament consists of women. Today, 49 percent of Rwanda's parliament is women. That is definitely something that we could learn from!

Free Time

After the meeting, we went to Mardge’s house to have some unscheduled fun time. The Rwandan girls tried to teach the Americans a traditional Rwandan dance. Later the Americans taught the Rwandans the Cha-Cha Slide. It was a very fun night!

Rwanda – Day 4

2008-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Orphanage

Today we visited an orphanage that houses kids and families who lost their parents in the genocide. They live on a beautiful farmland at the bottom of a hill. First we heard a little presentation from a man who is involved with the orphanage and he actually grew up in this orphanage with his brothers and sisters. First we saw the garden. They grow different vegetables and salads. All the girls helped to water the plants while the chaperones learned more about the orphanage. On our way back we saw how a foundation for a barn was put in place. They hope to keep a few cows there for milk. We saw many goats as well. During the tour we saw a couple of men hard at work cutting the grass to use to feed the cows later.

We had a short meeting in one of the houses. We brought a full suitcase full of Mickey Mouse dolls to give out to the kids. They all loved them! We gave out some chocolates as well.

The Papyrus

Then we ate lunch at Papyrus.

Mural

After that we went back to Nyacyonga to finish our mosaic mural. By this time, we just had the Chicago skyline and the sleeves of the shirts to finish .

Rwanda - Day 3

2008-07-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

Mayor of Kigali

In the morning we were picked up from our host families and everyone was dressed in our orange WE-ACTx t-shirts. We were on our way to meet the Mayor of Kigali – Aisa Kirabo Kacyira. While awaited our welcome in a beautiful garden – all the girls chatted, took photos, some people were interviewed by a local film crew or radio station. Then the Mayor came out to greet us and apologized that she would not be able to do the official welcome since somehow our meeting was scheduled the same time she had a security meeting. We took a few photos, gave her one of our signature t-shirts and exchanged a few words. So the official welcome was lead by one of her colleagues. She expressed how important this exchange between young adults of Kigali and Chicago is. She thanked Dr. Mardge for making this exchange possible and hoped that the two cities would become wonderful friends and that the relationships between the girls would last a long time.

Ramera

Our next stop was the place of economic development, providing income generation for the women. That is where all the women make the dolls, a variety of bags and shirts. By selling their hand-made products they are able to support themselves better. Each of us received a small tote bag with the official WE-ACTx Chicago-Kigali Girls Exchange patch sewn on it. We could choose among so many beautiful hand-batiked fabrics to find one we preferred the most.

Many girls bought even more souvenirs. The large, two-sided totes with the pouch seemed to be the favorite item. Each product has a tag with a name of the woman who sewed it. So many girls had the chance to take a photo with the lady who actually crafted the bag.

Later we sat down in a circle to talk about what else happens in Ramera. We met many youths and women, counselors who talked how WE-ACTx helps women and kids deal with HIV/AIDS. We talked about what kind of counseling services they provide, how they are trying to fight stigma in their communities. A few of the Rwandan girls are involved in HIV/AIDS prevention groups, so we learned what they are doing. And the Rwandans were eager to hear about how are we fighting this problem in United States and in our own communities.

Afrika Bite

For lunch we ate at the Afrika Bite again. We really enjoyed that place. Many Chicagoans really came to love not just the food of Rwanda, but also the drinks. I especially enjoyed the Rwanda green tea (they call it chai). And it seemed that everyone in Rwanda was drinking their tea with milk. I became a big fan of it. So I would drink the green tea with powdered milk and Rwandan honey whenever I got the chance. Others mostly enjoyed different pops and fruit juices. Lime Fanta (they call it citron) became the crowd favorite. Passion fruit juice (called agashya) was ordered constantly as well. It is a syrup that you mix with cold water. A few Chicago girls will try to buy a few bottles to bring back to Chicago.

In Claudine's Memory

After grabbing a bite we all went to visit Claudine's mother at her house. We met the family and sat in the living room. This was especially hard for Claudine's mom and Latrice. Latrice got to know Claudine through the few e-mails they wrote to each other before the unfortunate accident took Claudine's life. But now she never got the chance to actually meet her. People passed around photo of Claudine and spoke a few words in her memory. Claudine's mom said that Latrice looked exactly like her daughter and that she would gladly adopt her at least for the few days she is staying in Rwanda. We gave our condolences to the family and took some group photos.

Rwanda - Day 2

2008-07-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Kigali Memorial Center

In the morning everyone was picked up from their host families to visit the Memorial Center of Rwanda. We all were wearing a purple ribbon pinned to our chest, since purple is the color of mourning in Rwanda. This museum is dedicated to everyone in Rwanda since the genocide of 1994 affected every single Rwandan. The exhibit explained to us the “Path to Genocide,” the “100-Day Genocide,” the “Aftermath,” and how remarkable the fact is that Rwandans hold their heads high after everything that happened. And upstairs we visited the Children’s Memorial - a room dedicated to the children who were lost during the genocide. Seeing the eyes of these children in the photographs and reading their individual stories moved every one of us. We also went through the part of the exhibit called “Wasted Lives” that presented and explained the history of genocides around the world.

Downstairs we walked through a room filled with personal photographs of the victims. After we explored the museum inside, we all took a walk through the beautiful gardens to the mass graves. We put down a bouquet of flowers on one of the eight mass graves and had a moment of silence to remember all the brave hearts that were lost. It was astonishing to think that 250,000 people were buried there who were unidentifiable or who had no family to provide a proper burial. This experience was heartbreaking for everyone, even more so for the Rwandan girls who visited the memorial for the first time.

Afrika Bite

Then we all got on the bus and were on our way to a café called Afrika Bite. Most of the lunches we ate together were buffet-style meals. We all took a seat and then grabbed our plates and got in line around the table to have our first official Rwandan meal. Everything was cooked in beautiful clay pots. You could choose from rice, fried potatoes, sweet potatoes, cooked plantains (that taste like potatoes), vegetable stews, chicken, fish and beef stew. Instead of bread we ate something that resembled a very thick crepe. You could also choose between two sauces. And for dessert we had a choice of the fantastic fruit – melons, papayas, bananas and pineapples. You don’t know how actual fruit really tastes until you have tasted the fruit of Rwanda!

Mosaic Mural at Nyacyonga

We very much enjoyed the scenery on our way to Nyacyonga where the WE-ACTx clinic is located. That is where the mosaic mural will be. The mosaic mural will installed around a clinic window through which the patients receive their medication. Our mural will be the first thing you see when approaching the clinic. Since Jeanne had been in Rwanda for a week before we arrived – many things had already started to develop. First we did a lot of unpacking and divided the tasks. Jeanne did a little presentation to show the Rwandan girls how the whole thing would work because they had no experience in making a mosaic mural before this. We got a lot of things done the first day. We put up the birds, the colorful turbans, Kigali Mountains and the skyline of Chicago and the moon.

Many kids from the clinic and around the area came to see what we were doing. They were very excited and happy to see us. But they were even more excited about the candy and gum that we brought.

We worked on the mosaic until it was dark and hard to see what we were doing. After a long day everyone returned to their houses for a good night's sleep.

Rwanda - Day 1

2008-07-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

We all got on a mini-bus and were greeted by our host families at the places we were staying. All of us unpacked and changed clothes and were ready to start this wonderful adventure.
We had some lunch at Bourbon Coffee, a café that many tourists and locals enjoy.

And later we were on our way to a Mosque, where every Sunday a Children’s Support Group takes place nearby.

These kids are provided with transportation for safe travel to the location. There, the kids first meet in smaller groups for discussions and an exchange of knowledge.

And then it is time for games. The kids are divided into two or three bigger groups and then they spend some time together playing different games. We all got involved. Later we took many photos. All the kids in Rwanda love to take pictures because they can see themselves in the small screen of the digital photo cameras.

After a while it was snack time. All the kids get to choose their favorite mug, depending on the color. We poured warm milk. We also helped to hand each of the kids a banana and a small muffin. Everyone was satisfied – the kids enjoyed the meal and regained some strength and all of us girls were happy to help out.

Later each of the girls was officially introduced to a crowd of kids. They were laughing, applauding and making us all very happy. We all were sad to leave.
We got on the bus and drove to meet Henrietta’s sister who is a seamstress. We went to meet her at her studio. Each of the girls got to choose a fabric out of five different options, as well as the fit and the style of the dress or a skirt and a shirt. We all got measured. The dresses were told to be ready in two days. Every one was super excited to see the final result.

Lunch time!

2008-07-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Liz did a great job recording what we got to eat. ;)

Getting to Rwanda

2008-07-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

We all met at O’Hare Airport about three hours before the flight. Everyone was excited that we are finally going to set foot in Africa. Everyone had her luggage ready. One of the carry-ons was packed with the WE-ACTx orange t-shirts, snacks, the book, small containers of liquids; one suitcase with clothes, gifts and chocolate and other personal belongings; and another heavy suitcase was full of tile, grout and anything else that would be needed for the mosaic mural.
Some friends and relatives came to say goodbye and wished us all the best. After we finally got our boarding passes we were ready to find our gate for the United Airlines flight that would bring us to London.

At the London Airport we had a few hours layover until our Kenya Airlines flight to Nairobi. During that time we walked through a few duty-free shops, bought some post cards, had a meal at an airport restaurant and we also had a talk about our expectations, what we thought of the book “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families.” During that time we also worked on creating a skit or performance that would reflect our culture to be demonstrated at the welcome dinners, both in Kigali and Chicago.

We arrived in Nairobi, changed into our WE-ACTx orange t-shirts and could not wait to breathe in the fresh air of Rwanda. After a short delay we landed in Kigali. We got our first stamps in our passports and were ready to collect our luggage and finally meet the Rwandan girls. Well, it did not all happen so smoothly. Four suitcases were lost. So we spent quite a while trying to figure out what to do next. One suitcase full of materials for the mosaic mural and three suitcases full of the wardrobe of three Chicagoans were lost.

After all that got sorted out – we met our pen pals and were greeted by family and friends. Everyone was sweet, welcoming and happy for us to finally arrive.

iRw@nDA! - Kigali,Rwanda

2008-07-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

:)i Ooh Surprise !:),

Sorry for the delay:( All the We Act Girls exchange members met on July 18,2008. This meeting resembled the bridging the gap of cultures. Despite the fact of that these girls have never formally met, it seemed as though it was a family reunion. As one of the girls that experienced this wonderful reunion I can truly say that there no other place like Rwanda. Not only are the people are beautiful, but so is this wonderful country. I can not simply explain what my eyes are seeing. I wish there was some way to transmit what I see to all of you. Do not worry I can reassure you that are not at a total lost. Pictures will be here soon.
Love is Life,
We Act Girls Exchange

Today is the day!

2008-07-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

In a few hours we will be in the air on our way to London --> Nairobi --> Kigali!
Everyone is SUPER EXCITED!
We are meeting at O'Hare Airport at 7. The plane takes off for London at 9.
We are expecting some media people to come and check up on us as well.
I will try to keep the blog updated while we will be there. But sure there will be tons of pictures coming as soon as we get back to Chicago.
Good luck to us all! I am sure we will have the time of our lives.
Can't wait to meet all the girls and actually step onto the grounds of Rwanda. ;)

Work in progress...

2008-07-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Good day of work and fun!

2008-07-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

Today we met at The CORE Center for the installation of the mosaic mural.

We are not finished yet, but it looks FANTASTIC!
We were able to change the location of our mosaic mural and now it is on the second floor, visible from the lobby below.
Many more people will be able to see and appreciate our work of art.
Next time we will be there to put finishing touches on the mural - the girls from Kigali are going to be there with us.
We all just cannot wait!! ;)

Last week at Orr Community Academy High School

2008-07-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

This week we spent the last days working at Orr Community Academy High School preparing the final mosaic pieces.

Here is face of the moon. Susan just finished it and it is already half taped. This will go on the very top of the mural in Kigali.

Ketija and Yonetta working on the mosaic on Monday.

And Ketija and Liz finished it the next day.

And another face.

We got it all packed because Jeanne is leaving this Friday to get a head start on the mosaic mural we will all work on together when we get to Rwanda.

Making sure that the suitcases full of tile won't exceed the weight limit.

Happy Birthday Liz!

2008-07-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

We took a break from the hard work and enjoyed some chocolate cake for Liz's B-day that Linda brought.

Media Coverage

2008-07-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

The day we got our final shots for immunization, a few reporters, film crews and photographers came to see us and ask questions about the exchange this summer.
It is nerve-wracking to get a shot but it is even more nerve-wracking to get a shot while being filmed and photographed! ;)
Here is an article about it all by Monifa Thomas that was published in the Chicago Sun-Times.

People can see the article in the newspaper as well as read it on the web.
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/1035047,CST-NWS-rwanda02.article

Yonetta was the one to have her photo in the article. She received wonderful feedback from everyone. She even got a phone call from her old high school teacher. ;)

Here, Jamillah is answering some interview questions.

Who is next in line for the shot? :)

Mosaic Murals

2008-07-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest goals for this exchange is the creation of two mosaic murals. The design of the mural combines the two cultures - the skyline of the Chicago combined with the different patterns on clothing and turbans - all coming together under one sky and moon.

The mosaic mural project is an artistic collaboration supervised by Jeanne Walker and Sonja Henderson. Jeanne will be going to Kigali about a week beforehand and to get a head start on the mural. Our group leader Linda Mellis, as well as artists and art teachers Susan Dardar and Miriam Socoloff have been a tremendous help.

We first started by breaking the tile. That was great fun - the girls were not afraid of using the hammer. ;) Liz said it was good for releasing frustration and bad energy. ;)

Then we cut the tiles using nippers to form the picture piece by piece.

Here the piece is almost done. Part of it is already taped together so we won't accidentally ruin all the hard work that already has been done.

Some faces will be sculpted to make the whole mural more three-dimensional. Later Sonja will paint the faces and they surely will look phenomenal.

Here the scene of Millennium Park is all done and taped, ready to get on the airplane to Kigali or on the way to The CORE Center where the Chicago mural will be installed.

Last week we went to The CORE Center to draw the design on the wall where the mosaic pieces will go. We started a few outlines with the mirror pieces and put up the first birds.

Many people at The CORE Center seemed very excited about this project. And after the first day we all were saying - we can just imagine how great the whole mural will look if just birds alone already look so fantastic. :)

Look, that's The CORE Center where our mural will go! ;)

First Meetings...

2008-07-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

During our first meetings we just tried to get to know each other and learn why each of us applied to this program and how we think we will be able to utilize this experience afterwards.
We also tossed around ideas about what the whole group would enjoy doing after getting back to Chicago.

Each of the girls received a blank sketchbook to keep as a journal. We can use collages, writing, poetry, drawing or any other way to express how we feel as we get ready for this adventure, also during our journey.

Another subject we discussed was how we can prepare ourselves before visiting Rwanda. Our group leaders gave each of us a short reading list that should be helpful. The book we all decided to read is "We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families" by Philip Gourevitch.

The 1998 non-fiction book is about the genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda in 1994, written by The New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch. The book describes Gourevitch's travels in a Rwanda after the conflict, in which he interviews survivors and gathers information. Gourevitch retells survivors' stories, and reflects on the meaning of the genocide. (wikipedia.org)

Another helpful tool was seeing a presentation by Dr. Mardge Cohen. We learned the facts about Rwanda and the HIV/AIDS stats in that area through her Power Point presentation. We saw many wonderful photos of the Rwandan people. For the fist time we also saw the photos of the girls who we will meet in Rwanda.

After the fist few general meetings, now we meet few times a week to prepare the two mosaic murals. One will be installed in Kigali, one in Chicago.

Meet the Girls!

2008-07-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO

Jakina, 17, a June 2008 graduate of Michele Clark High School, will attend the University of Chicago in the fall. She says:
“I am impressed with the objective of the program. I believe that this program gives us girls a chance for our voice to be heard. This gives us the opportunity to unite across the world. We can share our opinions and views on what we think is important. I want to build recreational and teen centers that will help the future generation. I do not want these centers to be only national but international. I feel that this program can give me the experience that I will need. It will give me a chance to learn about new cultures and international people. It will give me a learning experience that no book can give. I will learn hands-on, connecting with others who are just like me. This program is like the saying, United we stand, Divided we fall. I want to help unite the world so that we as one can never fall. I can offer dedication and teamwork to the program.”

Latrice, 19, has just completed her freshman year at Northern Illinois University. She believes that everyone has a purpose in life, and says:
“I believe mine is working with those infected with HIV/AIDS. Also I believe that my purpose is to spread the word about the disease to those who are ignorant about the situation. Each year African American women are infected in an increasingly higher rate that before. I want to let them, as well as other races, know that the disease is preventable. This trip will open my eyes to a whole new world and give me the inspiration and confidence I need to achieve my goals. I do not want to go through life just working a job that is only benefiting me; I want to work so that I can inspire and back those who are in need of that helping hand and encouragement.”

Yonetta, 18, graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School in June and will attend Lewis University in the fall. She says:
“Participating in the WE-ACTx Girls Exchange will be a huge experience for me. I will learn about another culture different from mine. I feel that there are people out there less fortunate than me, and I would love to give back to that. In joining this program, I will contribute my time and dedication to interact and get to know the girls of Kigali. The Kigali girls will learn how I as a teenager in America deal with our society and function in life. One thing I learned in life is that you need to give back to the community. My family always helped me do my best in everything I did. I also have a community that needs me to help as well. My mother is always telling me that it takes a village to raise a child. I would like to tell you that I have that village, and I do not ask for more support that that.”

Ketija, 18, was born in Latvia and came to Chicago only recently. She just completed her freshman year at the School of the Art Institute, and says:
“While learning about Africa in my global studies class in high school, I am more conscious of the circumstances in third world countries. Visiting Africa became one of my life’s goals. Because of my new knowledge about the situation in Africa, I was glad to find out about the Rwanda Doll project at Gallery 37. I helped sew dolls made by HIV-infected women in Rwanda that were later sold throughout the US. I spent a couple of hours every week sewing and contributing to a great cause. The experience made me feel much better about myself, knowing that I am able to help people less fortunate. I believe now taking the next step and actually going to Africa and seeing the setting myself would improve me as a person. I will definitely learn a lot, gain experience and attain creative spirit for working more toward helping other people. I think it will be a wonderful experience of collaborating with people of Rwanda in creating some amazing and creative art pieces. Collaboration between two different cultures is excitingly unpredictable. It is amazing to know that there are opportunities like the WE-ACTx Girls Exchange out there for regular people who are more worried about the current global issues and not just some teenage nonsense. I am sure that the journey to Africa will be a life-changing experience for anyone who has a chance to take part in it.”

Liz, 17, who starts her senior year at Evanston High School in fall 2008, says:
“By visiting the girls in Kigali, I will make new friends and so will they. We both will be given the opportunity to change peoples' opinions of Africa and the conditions there. We will be given the chance to draw attention to the current problems that they face. I personally will do all that I can to raise awareness of Rwanda. I believe that programs like this should happen more often. Teens, especially, are so unaware of the world around then and this will help them to see what is truly going on. Last summer the opportunity presented itself and I with several others raised almost $1000 dollars. We sold dolls at the Hyde Park Arts festival and talked with everyone about Rwanda. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it to help inform people about what was happening over in Rwanda. I have continued to volunteer with WE-ACTx and I jump at every chance to help. This trip to Kigali is one that I have always wanted to take. I have talked to several people who have gone to help at the clinics in Rwanda and finally getting to see them with my own eyes and meet the women and families who have been helped will forever change my life. After selling dolls, bags, and baskets and the other crafts that the women there make, it will be an honor for me to finally meet them. I feel that by making this trip, I will bring and open mind, a warm heart, a good attitude, and a giving spirit. This trip will show me a different perspective on life that I could not receive anywhere else and I intend to make the most of it.”

Jamillah, 17, who will be a junior at Lindblom High School in the fall, says:
“The trip to Rwanda will be an excellent experience. The question is not what experiences and contributions I will bring to the table while on the Rwanda trip. The question is what I will take from those life lessons, and how will I apply that to life beyond this summer. Of course I will share this enriching experience with the ones who live around me and who I feel will benefit from the experience.”
Jamillah goes on to say that she “will be a part of a documentary crew that will describe the epidemic and how Rwanda’s people are facing it and providing possible solutions. Hopefully the documentary will show people what roads need to be walked for change to come.”
Members of Lindblom Math and Academy’s Filmmaking and Documentary Colloquium expect to make the documentary. Jamillah explains, “It will be my third year being a part of a film crew, and this established crew will successfully create a Rwanda Documentary.”

KIGALI, RWANDA

Natasha, 18, lives with her mother in Kigali. She’s still in high school, where she studies informatics and founded an HIV anti-stigma group. She says,
“I like listening to music, watching movies and reading books. I also like discovering new things, and giving advice to my friends because I learn so much from other people.”

Josiane is 18. Both of her parents died from HIV, and she lives with a cousin. She is still in high school, and says,
“In everyday life I like praying, just like my parents trained me when I was young, and I also like being social. I am glad that there is a family who will host me in the United States.”

Claudette is 19. Her father was killed during the genocide and her mother suffered a great deal. She, too is a survivor. She’s very energetic and still in high school, where she studies informatics. Claudette says,
“I like traveling to make new friends and see how the world moves. I look forward to having a host family and I hope to learn much from them.”

Charlotte is 19 and is committed to doing good things. She is in her last year of high school, and says,
“I hope I will learn from my host family and that they will learn a lot of things from me and about my country, too.”

Marie Thérèse is 20. Both of her parents died of HIV. She lives with her grandmother, just finished high school with a focus in the field of human sciences, and will attend the university in 2009. She says,
“I like to meet new people and to make new friends. I really like children. I like to study and help others, and care about my friends and all people.”

Claudine was 19 when she perished along with another WE-ACTx worker in a tragic automobile accident in Kigali on July 4, on the eve of her participation in the WE-ACTx Girls Exchange Chicago↔Kigali. Her father was killed during the war. Claudine had just finished high school and was awaiting her exam scores to begin her studies at the university next January. She was a peer advocate for HIV+ young people at WE-ACTx, and also worked for WE-ACTx doing data entry. Her untimely death is a profound loss for her many friends and colleagues. Claudine had said, “I like to read all kinds of books, and I am a fan of all kinds of music. I like making new friends, exchanging ideas with all kinds of people. I want to live in peace with everybody.”
Each of the mosaic murals the girls will create will be dedicated to Claudine’s memory.

Group Leaders:

Linda, one of the group leaders accompanying the Chicago girls to Rwanda, is a retired social worker with the Chicago Public Schools. She is an active volunteer with the AFS (American Field Service) Exchange Program and was the group leader for 17 teenagers who traveled to China in 2005. Linda says,
“I am so excited about going on this trip and learning more about Rwanda, and visiting Africa for the first time. The WE-ACTx Girls Exchange is a unique initiative that will foster awareness of teens living with HIV, and engender a global awareness of the issues. This will surely be as much of a life-changing event for me as it will be for all of the girls. I look forward to seeing how the girls respond to this experience, and what each one of them decides to do in the future with regard to HIV/AIDS and other social issues.”

Henriette lived in Rwanda through the genocide. She is now a trauma counselor and is especially helpful addressing the problems that young women and girls face. She is married and has visited the United States once before to speak at meetings about HIV and trauma in Rwanda.

Felicité is married and has four children. She grew up in Uganda and moved to Rwanda in 1994. She started the Rwandan Women’s Soccer League several years ago and now works internationally to promote women’s empowerment through sports.

Mosaic Mural Designers

Jeanne is the artistic catalyst behind the mosaic murals the girls will create in Chicago and Kigali. She was Sonja’s teaching partner this past year at Gallery 37, teaching young artists an advanced contemporary sculpture class. Jeanne also teaches art at Orr Academy High on Chicago’s west side, and is a passionate advocate of Service Learning. She says,
“I plan to keenly observe how everyone works together to bring about change and personal and communal empowerment, a key component of what I teach through art classes. I hope to learn how I might do that more deeply and effectively as a result of this trip. I look forward to sharing this experience with my students and teaching colleagues as we try to make what is taught in the classroom relevant and meaningful.”

Sonja is an accomplished artist and art teacher. A painter and sculptor, she has worked at Gallery 37 with students on the Rwanda doll project, which is how she learned about the work of WE-ACTx. She says,
“I am inspired by so-called 'women’s work' around the world, and how we pass down skills and traditions like care-taking, healing and community-building from generation to generation. I am eager to feel Africa's embrace and learn all I can from the men, women and children in Rwanda. This will be a life-changing experience for me. I hope to come back to the States with a broader knowledge of our global community and how we can care, learn from and teach one another."

Why Rwanda, Why Now?

2008-07-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

In Rwanda, youth are part of a society recovering from post-genocide trauma. Many have seen or experienced extreme violence before, during and since the 1994 genocide. One of six Rwandan children dies by the age of 5. Only 50 percent are in primary schools and only 12 percent of those attend secondary schools. French, English and Kinyarwanda are all official languages. Currently, Rwanda is in the phase of security, reconstruction and hope. Developing youth programs is a priority. Youth have a powerful voice and can change the world.

WE-ACTx

2008-07-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

WE-ACTx was formed in response to a 2003 international call by Rwandan Women’s Associations to provide HIV medications to women who had been raped and infected during the 1994 genocide. WE-ACTx now supports three clinics providing comprehensive medical and psychosocial care in Kigali. More than 24 grassroots partner associations help to direct needed services and ensure patient adherence. The clinical care programs now include home visits, play therapy and support groups for youth, ages 15 through 24, who are HIV positive and struggling to define their futures. Fellowship and discussion, creative outlets, such as art projects; physical outlets including sports, dance and music; and intellectual outlets such as learning new and significant life skills are making a positive difference in their lives.