Students Visit Reconciliation Village in Rwanda

Learning how to heal and live in peace at the Lycee Saint Marcel de Rukara reconciliation village in Rwanda

Students in Kent State University's Kigali Summer Institute visited the Lycee Saint Marcel de Rukara reconciliation village in Rwanda to learn about the path to forgiveness after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, when more than 1 million members of the Tutsi tribe were murdered in a 100-day span by the government-backed Hutu tribe. Today, both survivors and perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide live together in peace here in the village.

Students visiting a reconciliation village
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Students outside of a church at the Reconciliation Village
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Students inside of a church at the reconciliation village

Kent State students and faculty listen to accounts of the massacre that occurred in the village church.

A survivor speaks to students

A Tutsi survivor shares her harrowing story and path to healing.

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A survivor and perpetrator embrace
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A survivor and perpetrator shake hands

Genocide survivors and perpetrators embrace in a gesture of forgiveness and reunification.

Villagers dance

Village residents celebrate their unity with a traditional Rwandan dance and song of peace.

Village kids watch the visitors

Village children study the visitors.

Students from the University of Rwanda and Kent State University

Students from the University of Rwanda and Kent State University have been studying together as part of the Kigali Summer Institute, a three-week education-abroad experience that includes the course Rwanda After the Genocide Against the Tutsi. 

POSTED: Friday, July 14, 2023 03:15 PM
Updated: Monday, July 17, 2023 10:08 AM