Owners
What it's all about
Over the course of three months in 1994, one million people were murdered in Rwanda simply because of who they were - men, women, and children. Those who survived were scarred for life. Fourteen years on, an internationally-experienced cast of young and talented Rwandan artists return to tour the UK, telling the story of their country through theatre, dance and music.
The cast explore how and why one million people were murdered in the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when the Government attempted to wipe out the Tutsi minority and the international community withdrew from the country.
While this production conveys the brutality of the conflict, it also highlights the universal lessons of individual responsibility. Looking forward, but also addressing the past, the work of Mashirika above all inspires hope.
On Friday 21st of November and Monday 24th of November 2008, Mashirika will be performing 'Africa's Hope' in Nottingham. I want to enable Derby students to have the rare opportunity to see this performance by organising a minibus to transport students from the University of Derby to Nottingham.
The performance was commissioned by Aegis Trust as part of its education outreach programmes. This autumn, over 30 schools and theatres across the UK will host the production, with over 1,000 people attending workshops run by the cast.
Having worked with the Aegis Trust who organised this tour and recently returned from Rwanda where i first saw this performance, I am absolutely convinced of its importance and relevance to each one of us, not just to become aware of what happened in Rwanda during the genocide of 1994, but also because the lessons that each of us can take from it can and should be applied in our own community, country and the world, particularly in light of ongoing genocide taking place right now in Darfur.
Mashirika is recognised as Rwanda's foremost youth performing arts company. Now approaching its 10th birthday, Mashirika continues to evolve artistically and remains at the forefront of exciting African theatre. At the same time, it maintains its distinctive style and commitment to bringing accessible real-life theatre to an international audience.
The Aegis Trust was established in 2000 as a UK charity that works to prevent genocide. Aegis is based at The Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire and at Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda. Aegis has been working in partnership with Mashirika since 2004. Aegis first invited Mashirika to perform with a 100-strong cast in the Kigali Stadium for the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Following the success of this partnership and their shared aims, Aegis invited Mashirika to tour the UK in 2006 as part of its genocide education programme. Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda opened in April 2004 for the 10th anniversary of the 1994 genocide. Aegis was invited by Kigali City Council to develop the site, which consists of a museum, documentation centre, memorial gardens and Kigali City's mass graves. Over 250,000 victims of the genocide are buried on this site and more are buried every year.
http://mashirika.aegistrust.co.uk
http://www.aegistrust.org
http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org
The tour is sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines
What's needed to make it a reality
2) Tickets to the performance
3) Booking a minibus to transport the students from Derby to Nottingham for the performance
4) PEOPLE, PEOPLE and more PEOPLE
Comments
While the film 'Hotel Rwanda' helped to get the story about what happened in Rwanda more well known this tour sounds like a really engaging way to continue to spread the message. Good luck with this - hopefully Junction49ers from elsewhere in the country will be able to cross paths with the tour too.
As you are a student at Derby University, you can access up to £750 to help turn your idea into reality. Derby is one of 12 universities who are taking part in the scheme where you can access funding, training and support from your Volunteer Support Officer (Jo) to help you get your project up and running. Check out:
http://www.junction49.co.uk/university/44/university_of_derby/
Zoë Report Abuse
Thanks for your message of encouragement - unfortunately, Junction 49 do not want to support the initiative which i think is a great shame. There are clear benefits to society and the event will engage volunteers through their attendane and the long term impact of empowering them to volunteer and work with Aegis Students - helping to educate, campaign and fundraise to end genocide.
I will posting up other ideas soon...
Sam Report Abuse
Junction49 supports all ideas which have a positive community impact and we fully support this tour and the work of Aegis to campaign to end genocide. As you're a student at one of our partner universities, the projects which are set up have to follow certain criteria in order to gain access to the funding to turn their ideas into reality. We always encourage ideas to be developed so that that they can be funded by us, as part of the University Project that Junction49 runs with 12 universities across the country. We are more than happy to work with you and Jo to develop your idea further so that you can raise awareness and educate others about the atrocities of genocide.
Sarah Report Abuse
Thanks for your encouraging message. Unfortunately time is up for getting something arranged during this tour from Mashirika - the theatre group from Rwanda. I would be very interested to talk to you and colleagues about ideas i have for other activities/events/campaigns. I have some ideas for International work as well which i would like to talk to a representative at Junction 49 about.
This is my number - 07834 750 829 - if anyone from Junction 49 is able to contact me to discuss further i would really appreciate that. I will of course be in communication with Jo at Derby regarding local/national ideas.
Thank you,
Sam Report Abuse
I'm glad to hear you've got lots of other ideas, I look forward to hearing about them and Jo of course can help support you and get access to the funding to turn them into reality.
Junction49 can only fund projects which take place in England, but if you have fundraising or awareness ideas for international issues then by all means this is something which we can help you fund. Of course you can add all ideas you have to the website and we can help you in whatever way we can, whether it simply be through support or advice. There may also be other Junction49ers who may be able to help you too, or who share your ideas.
The tour is coming to London, so I may try and go see it myself as I studied the Rwandan genocide whilst at university.
Sarah Report Abuse
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