“We all brought back from Rwanda the lesson of forgiveness. We saw how enemies were able to forgive each other at the Court of Reconciliation in just less than twelve years after the genocide. The gangs in the Virgin Islands are really like the Tutsis and Hutus, only on a smaller scale. What would it take to have all Virgin Islanders living in peace with each other? Maybe some of the answers can be found in the policies and people of Rwanda. ”
—Andrew Casazza
“Not only was the land a sight of magnificent beauty, but the people were as well. Every day the Rwandans swept their streets in Kigali. They work hard together to improve their land by digging trenches, planting seeds and building new structures. Rwandans walk or ride bicycles everywhere. Children walk miles carrying heavy loads on their heads and it is common to wake up at 4 a.m. to walk to school. They walk tirelessly in the hot sun from morning until evening. We should learn from their example about determination.”
—Brandon Rhymer
“Rwanda was a lesson for me on happiness. They sang and danced all day and were happy. They had so little compared to us, yet they found joy in every little thing we did for them. We need to wake up each day and be happy to be alive.”
— Denzel Browne
“When our problems are held side by side, my issues seem insignificant and trivial. The trip showed me that I have been given so much more than most people in the world. Rwanda has taught me to use what opportunities I have been blessed with and I have become a driven individual. I am driven to make the best of my life and to help others do the same. I will continue to lead my peers by the lessons I have learned in Rwanda.”
— J’Moi Powell
“Ironically, the orphans have so much more than those of us who came to help them. Their imaginations are vivid, their toys and games invented and their appreciation for simple life endless. Their games are invented from sticks and stones. A banana leaf tied tightly with twine makes a soccer ball. So who needs I-Pods, game systems and cell phones? Can a simpler life be a happier one? Americans have much to learn from the children of Rwanda.”
— Julia Casazza
“I experienced the vast responsibility that comes with independence. I am unlike a Rwandan child who, at age nine has to go out and work in fields from early morning until dusk. In America, some people are being spoiled by the government, depending upon it to take care of them with free handouts such as food stamps, welfare and WIC programs. Rwanda gave me the chance to see the price tag that comes with freedom.”
— Karlen Talbert
“Living in the Virgin Islands has shaped me to look at the world in a different aspect. It may sound weird, but I like being out of my comfort zone, my home, my day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute, routine life. I thrive on whim and excitement. I made the trip to Rwanda in part to help me define myself as a person. And that trip took me one step closer to answering the biggest question in life, ‘Who am I?’ ”
— Rene de Jongh
“The orphanages that I went welcomed us with open arms, with no distrust or anger lurking in their eyes. They were joyous at the fact that people from across the globe actually traveled to see them and wanted to help them. Rwanda is a place that has advanced beyond the hatred and genocide that nearly tore the country apart. They have striven to succeed in life and everything they do. I have learned to be more giving, caring, and understanding about people.”
— Twanna Hodge
“It made me appreciate all that I have and what just one person can do for others. I felt an instant connection with the Rwandan people who welcomed us as if we had come home. It is impossible to come back after seeing people with such hope, pride and happiness and not be inspired to follow their lead.”
— Sharee Miller
People can be changed by experiencing other cultures. The Rwanda Project has the potential to effect positive change in the Virgin Islands.
— Barbara Young
