Resources for Teaching about the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
April 7, 2016 marks the 22nd anniversary of Kwibuka, the official anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. From April to July 1994, one of the most brutal genocides in human history occurred in Rwanda. It claimed the lives of 800,000 men, women, and children, most of whom were of Tutsi descent.
To help introduce your students to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda explore testimonies and activities in IWitness.
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1. Testimony
Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Carl Wilkens on neighbors speaking up
Carl Wilkens, an aid provider during the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, describes the courageous acts of his neighbors.
Genocide: Live Wesige on Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Language: English
On April 6, 1994, an aircraft carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it was about to land in Kigali airport. Everyone aboard the plane was killed: Habyarimana; president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira; and a three-man French crew. While it remains unclear who fired the missile, the event is viewed as having ignited the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide.
Live Wesige remembers hearing the news about the president’s death and describes the violence that ensued in his neighborhood the next day, April 7, 1994.
Rose Burizihiza on the Beginning of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Language: Kinyarwanda
Rose Burizihiza describes how the Hutu leaders in her town met to plan how they would kill the local Tutsis.
Roméo Dallaire on the 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide
Language: English
Roméo Dallaire describes how quickly violence escalated in Rwanda in 1994 and his disappointment in the lack of support from the international community.
Valerie Nyirarudodo on forgiveness
Language: Kinyarwanda
Valerie Nyirarudodo says she has forgiven the perpetrators of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda who have asked for it, and encourages others to follow the same path.
Alphonse Kabalisa on anti-Tutsi propaganda
Language: Kinyarwanda
Alphonse Kabalisa recalls listening to anti-Tutsi propaganda on the radio with his father, after the death of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana. Alphonse’s testimony is featured in the IWitness activity, Information Quest: The Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Carl Wilkens on neighbors speaking up
Language: English
Carl Wilkens, an aid provider during the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, describes the courageous acts of his neighbors.
Kizito Kalima on the importance of learning the lesson
Language: English
Rwandan Tutsi Genocide survivor Kizito Kalima shares his hope that people take action to prevent future genocides. He vows to do anything necessary to ensure the world is a safe, peaceful place.
Edith Umugiraneza on the Interahamwe Militia
Language: English
Rwandan Tutsi Genocide survivor Edith Umugiraneza describes her first contact with the Interahamwe militia, which was threatening violence against Tutsis.
Freddy Mutanguha on saying goodbye to his mother
Language: English
2. IWitness Activities
Through multimedia activities centered on testimony students explore themes including propaganda, the bystander effect and the individual experience. Every Friday throughout the month of April, IWitness will publish a new activity geared for Rwandan students. Make sure to log into IWitness to discover the new activities.
The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda
From April to July 1994, one of the most brutal genocides in human history occurred in Rwanda. It claimed the lives of 800,000 men, women and children, most of whom were of Tutsi descent.
The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, as the United Nations Security Council agreed it should be known as in January 2014, shared characteristics with other genocides that came before and after it.
Learning Aims: Through this Information Quest activity, students will learn about the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda specifically, the history of genocide generally, and the stages of genocide. They will also be introduced to testimony of eyewitnesses who survived.
In this Mini Quest activity, students will develop an understanding of what it means to be a bystander and its potential impact in the context of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Learning Aims: Students will watch a number of testimonies from witnesses to and survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda who describe the consequences of the bystander effect in their own lives. Students will construct a social media message for the #BeginsWithMe campaign that describes their own plan to counter bystander behavior.
From April to July 1994, one of the most brutal genocides in human history occurred in Rwanda. It claimed the lives of 800,000 men, women, and children, most of whom were of Tutsi descent.
Learning Aims: The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda shared characteristics with other genocides that came before and after it. In this activity, students will learn about the history of genocide and the early stages of genocide. They will also be introduced to the testimonies of eyewitnesses who survived.
Kizito Kalima Information Quest
Information Quests are brief activities designed for students to view and reflect on an experience from a survivor's testimony. Students will watch parts of the testimony of Kizito Kalima, a survivor of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, 1994. Learning Aims: They will engage with his story and through his story learn about the experience of surviving genocide.
Available in educator dashboard connection videos provide foundational knowledge required for effective use and learning from content. Use the videos to introduce your students to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
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