This week, the world has looked back on the horrific 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Through memorial services and vigils, reflections in photos and historical accounts, we take a moment to remember the more than 800,000 people killed and many more displaced, orphaned or scarred by the violence.
Some use this week to recognize where oppression persists. The Mark examines where Rwanda’s citizens stand 17 years on. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon calls on the International Criminal Court to prevent further human rights violations, while violence continues to surface in Cote d’Ivoire, Bahrain, Libya and elsewhere.
But stories of hope and resilience in Rwanda emerge this week, too.
The BBC recounts the tale of Gisimba Orphanage, which sheltered (and saved) about 600 people, both Hutu and Tutsi, in the thick of violence in Kigali. Read the story here >
People of the Second Chance, a group that challenges common conceptions of failure and mistakes, shows the story of Emmanual, a man who contributed to the widespread ethnic cleansing in Rwanda.
< Watch his story.
The film tells the story of Rwandans using mosques as hideouts during the genocide. Take a look at the trailer >
Did we miss some powerful stories about Rwanda? Hear anything this week that stood out to you? Comment with a story or link to a story here >
It’s been more than four months since incumbent Laurent Gbagbo lost the country’s presidential elections, but he still refuses to step down. This week, the opposition, backed by French UN troops, has laid the pressure on thick, taking over the country’s capital and evidently cornering Gbagbo in his compound’s basement.
Learn more about the current situation from the Economist here >.
And get a personal perspective from someone who worked to get Gbagbo in office in the first place here >
Although Gbagbo is expected to flee the country or surrender any moment now, restoring peace and safety after he’s gone won’t be easy. The last four months of violence and tension has uprooted at least 400,000 people across the country. In January, we reported our partners in Liberia were adjusting to an influx of 20,000 Ivorian refugees fleeing into Nimba County. Now, the UN estimates the total coming across the border has hit 94,000.
We work with the International Rescue Committee to build water and sanitation projects in Cote d’Ivoire. We recommend you follow them on Twitter (@theIRC) and keep up with their blog for further updates on the Ivory Coast.
Stomach bugs are nothing new to India, but researchers recently found a new kind of “superbug” — it’s actually a genetic mutation — in Delhi’s water, one that strengthens the germs that acquire it. Basically, the NDM-1 bug makes the bacteria that cause cholera, E. coli, dysentery and other diseases resistant to antibiotic treatment.
“While the bacteria that cause cholera (Vibrio cholerae), dysentery and diarrhea (Shigella) and other diseases may be commonly found in water samples in New Delhi, the researchers were dismayed to discover bacteria with the NDM-1 gene mutation — which means that these infections may potentially be untreatable with drugs,” reports TIME.
NDM-1 circulated in the U.S., the U.K., Japan and other countries in 2008; doctors think that it wasn’t treated properly in India, so it stuck around in municipal water sources. They also say it could spread again across the globe since millions pour in and out of the India on business and vacation each year. It doesn’t help that most of Delhi lacks proper sanitation and the heavy crowds and high temperatures can quickly spread disease.
From Ludlow, Ohio:
Jonathan was inspired by Kristen Bell’s birthday campaign last year that raised more than $100,000. Now, he’s following suit by giving up his 26th birthday to raise money for water.
From Pearl River, NY:
Patrick is a volunteer junky: he helped out in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, then he gave up his birthday to fund an entire water project. His local media interviewed him about his passion to help.
From Fairless Hills, Penn:
Next week, this high school is hosting “Yard Shops for Water Drops,” a yard sale to raise money for water projects.
From Austin, Texas:
Eight-year-old Ella reached her $5,000 goal with the help of family, friends and… Groupon! “It bothers me that kids my age get really sick and can die from drinking dirty water,” she says. See her campaign here >
It’s International Women’s Day! So we’re taking a moment to look back at all the incredible women we met last year while in the field. Some have clean water, others are still walking hours to the nearest source. Many are mothers, balancing parenting with housework, jobs or work in the community as hygiene educators and well caretakers. Some run their own businesses or entire clinics and schools.
All are beautiful.
Celebrate women today! Take a look back at some of our latest stories from the field about powerful women:
charity: water founder Scott Harrison is in Rwanda for the week, strategizing with one of our partnering organizations, Water For People. Today he attended a ceremony for the launch of a new initiative to bring clean water to an entire district in Rwanda. Here’s his update:
Had the pleasure of officially kicking off the Rulindo Challenge today in Rwanda with Ned Breslin, CEO of Water For People, members of the local community, and ministers from the federal government. Together, we’re committed to providing the 260,000 people of the Rulindo district with 100% water coverage by 2014. Water For People will manage and implement the program and charity: water, the local government and the communities benefiting from the projects will each contribute a portion of the cost -– a true partnership!
Photographer Jonathan Torgovnik traveled to Rwanda to shoot a Newsweek story on AIDS in Feb. 2006. There, he met Margaret, a Tutsi who was raped and beaten during the 1994 genocide — and not only contracted HIV from it, but also bore a child of one of her rapists. She’s not alone. There were 20,000 children born from rapes during the genocide, many of whom are HIV-positive. Jonathan returned to Rwanda to tell their stories. He interviewed 50 families for his short film Intended Consequences. Soon after, he formed a non-profit called Foundation Rwanda to help the kids and the moms affected by the genocide rapes.
We invited Jonathan into the office for a screening of Intended Consequences and a short Q&A.
“I returned to New York after the story, but something stayed with me, I couldn’t stop thinking about Margaret,” he told us. “These women are the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
We’re in awe of them. And of Jonathan’s commitment to the project. Since you couldn’t join us in the office to hear his personal take on the project, we recommend you watch his interview with MediaStorm (it’s under “An Unspoken Language”).
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