So . . . I'm going to Africa

Hi everyone,

So, as you all know, I got a summer internship with an NGO in Rwanda for this summer. I'm setting up this blog so that my friends and family can see what I'm doing and what my life is like there. I will post pictures, videos when I can and news about my life. I'm starting the blog now - months before I leave because: 1. I want to procrastinate. 2. I'm stoked about the coming experience and want to learn about it now.

I am also going to be writing a research paper for my geography class this semester focusing on the organization and how it is addressing the issues of population and natural resources in Rwanda. But for now, here is what I know: the organization I will be working for is cassed WE-ACTx, which stands for Women's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment. It was set up to help women who were infected with AIDS or HIV during the 1994 genocide. Before WE-ACTx, there were so many obstacles between these women and treatment that they had accepted their death and felt that there was nothing that they could do about it. The organization starting removing those barriers one by one - if a woman didn't have 10 cents to pay for the bus ride to the clinic, they made the clinic closer. Obstacles of money or availability of drugs is a very tangible thing and in that way easy to change in comparison with the obstacles of shame and disgust. The vast majority of these women have this disease because they were raped by the Hutus during the genocide. To address the disease publicly would empower the Hutus because the effects of their actions over 10 years ago are still having devastating effects.

So, WE-ACTx has grown immensely over the past few years and now they have expanded from just health to education, empowerment, and law. I was hired to work in the Family Department - and I honestly can't tell you what that means. I hope that I'll get to work with kids . . .

As I explore these issues, I will post information on the genocide (so far I have run into a lot of versions of what actually happened and why). I will also post pictures of me getting huge malaria (and whatever else) shots - which I'm really excited about. I actually am - maybe it's that old crew masochism. For now, here are some links:

WE-ACTx's official website

Hotel Rwanda Website (I haven't really checked this out, but I've heard good things).

Invisible Children Website (This is a short documentary made by some kids my age who went to Africa looking for a story and came across the Ugandan children fleeing the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). This isn't exactly related to where I will be or what I will be doing, but is still very moving and I highly recommend it if you find the time to see it.)

Okay - that's all for now, although I feel like I could sit here forever and talk about these issues - I haven't even mentioned colonialism (arrgh). More to come . . .

Peace and be well.

P.S. I named this blog after the film that first introduced me to Africa. It's not serious or sad or moving - it's actually hilarious! Watch it - we could all use a little more side-splitting laughter.