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Current Activities Rwanda
Mashirika Project has just concluded a fifteen days short term project with children of Kimisigara for performances during the 15th commemoration of Tutsi genocide in Rwanda. It involved music and poems.
Ishyo asbl started a training program for children in dance and theatre which is aimed at elevating theatre for children by children.
Swedish/Rwandese Workshops:
A string of workshops is being organised by ASSITEJ Sweden and Artej in the month of June. Fifteen theatre practitioners from Sweden will be coming to Rwanda to carry out these workshops and make performances. Up to 60 Rwandan artists are expected to benefit from these workshops. The training is in puppet theatre, creating and acting, theatre management and illustrating books for children. Click here for more information
Cultural Co-operation Programme:
Sweden will be involved in developing the creative arts in Rwanda and building a cultural co-operation programme, which includes exchanges of artistic programmes, establishment of radio programmes (including a Childrens’ radio), and training of Rwandan artists. More news will be forthcoming as this project develops.
Mashirika Project's "Africa's Hope" tour
Africa’s Hope toured the UK for 3 months in 2008, presenting the real-life stories of survivors of the genocide. The cast of nine included Rwandan musicians dancers and actors under the leadership of Hope Azeda. They incorporate live drumming, dancing and singing into their performance, breaking down how prejudice and hatred can lead to mass murder.
Africa's Hope tells the story of what happened in Rwanda in 1994. One million Rwandans were systematically murdered in three months, as part of a government-led effort to wipe out the minority group in Rwandan, known as Tutsi.
Presenting the real-life stories of survivors, Africa's Hope looks at the darker side of human history. The cast of nine are top Rwandan musicians dancers and actors under the leadership of Hope Azeda. They incorporate live drumming, dancing and singing in to their performance, breaking down how prejudice and hatred can lead to mass murder. They prompt us to think about what lessons can be learned from the recent history of Rwanda.
Africa's Hope includes the story of child survivor Beata Uwazaninka, who escaped death many times and was rescued by a courageous Muslim family during the genocide. It prompts discussion about the universal lessons of humanity, as an eye opener for young people, as survivors tell us the story of what happened to their families and communities, in the recent and horrific history of Rwanda.
Looking forward, but also addressing the past, the performance above all inspires hope.
Currently touring the UK for two months, what do young people think of Mashirika?
-"It helped me a lot as a person because it taught me that I shouldn't look at people as a group but as individuals because everybody is different."
Student, Age 13, Manning School for Girls
-"I have learnt so much that I couldn't possibly have learnt from history or any other subjects at school really, because they presented it in a different way - that really sort of hit home and made you think about it."
Student, Age 14, Worksop College
-"Why were adults turning on their neighbours? Do people matter? It brought home to us that racism cannot be tolerated."
Student, Age 18, Biddulph High School
Ongoing
Children of Conflict Project
http://www.floridastage.org/outreachgstar
Rwanda has engaged with American, Balkan and soon South African school children in a 'children of war' project. It is a website discussion forum in which students from these countries share their thoughts and ideas, with a focus on specific themes, such as " "humanity," "future," "justice," and "conflict." They share their experiences and hopefully come away with a better understanding of their world and how they can promote peace as they become adult citizens.
The students hope to respond to the discussions through theatre, whether by writing a scene or monologue, or through visual art or music. The work is then posted on the website for everyone to see and respond to.