About SHOUT Canada and the Program
SHOUT Canada is a grassroots, national, not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Governors. Reflections on Rwanda (ROR) is SHOUT Canada’s flagship program, in the context of its primary organizational mandate, which is to help foster a generation of students with the power, voice and determination to affect change.
The ROR program was conceptualized and created in 2008 by the organization’s founding members who were all full-time students at the time. The year was spent putting together a pilot project, which came to fruition in the summer of 2009. Indeed, the group spent the better part of that summer in Rwanda visiting historical sites, solidifying relationships with individuals, as wells as governmental and non-governmental groups. The pilot project was implemented to lay the grounding for the 2010 ROR program.
On May 17th 2010, the first ROR cohort, comprised of 11 young Canadians from all corners of the country, met at London’s Heathrow Airport to be briefed about their imminent arrival in Kigali. On May 15th, 2011, the second ROR cohort landed in Kigali. In this context, SHOUT Canada is pleased to be offering the ROR program again in 2012.
Moving Forward … Summer 2012 in Sight
At the beginning of May 2012, SHOUT Canada will send between 10 and 15 Canadian young people to visit the Republic of Rwanda on the third iteration of its flagship ROR program. Participants become witnesses to the country’s history and gain exposure to the factors that made the occurrence of genocide possible. The ROR program will last a total of 12-14 days and will focus not only on the study of the country’s troubled past, but it will also deal with the country’s current state and prospects for the future.
Though other devastating genocides occurred throughout the 20th century, Rwanda’s Genocide is a unique case. Indeed, it was the most “efficient” of the 20th century. In the span of 100 days, an estimated 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered (according to the UN).
The reasons for traveling to Rwanda are numerous. Participants will become witnesses to Rwanda’s history as they travel across the country visiting sites and hearing the stories of survivors and rescuers alike. Participants will become ambassadors for Rwanda and its people, and in so doing, will return to Canada with not only the courage, but also the first-hand knowledge to affect change.
During travels throughout Rwanda, participants will be exposed to many facets of the country. Meetings will take place with high ranking Rwandan officials, non-governmental and civil society groups, local families, various student groups, and importantly, participants will be exposed to daily life in the beautiful country of Rwanda, endearingly known as the country of a thousand hills.
Participants must be flexible. Although Rwanda is a safe and well-functioning country, participants should not expect Canadian standards. Toilets are not always clean, there is not always running water and schedules are not always met. In short, while the ROR team will do everything possible to ensure that the program flows smoothly, participants need to be flexible at all times. Thus, we seek individuals who have a taste for adventure.
Please click on the link below to download an application form:
Reflections On Rwanda Application_2012