Program Photos

Rwanda & Uganda: Post-Genocide Restoration and Peacebuilding

Location: Rwanda: Kigali; Uganda: Kampala

Term: Fall, Spring

Dates: Fall and Spring terms

SIT Study Abroad

http://www.sit.edu

PO Box 676 Kipling Road Brattleboro, Vermont 05302-0676 United States

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Phone: (888)272-7881

Fax: (802)258-3296

Description

In 1994, Rwanda was the site of one the most atrocious genocides in contemporary human history. In the span of 100 days, about 1,000,000 million people were killed, resulting in a broken and devastated country.

Since 1994, Rwanda's peace building process has been successful in restoring trust in state institutions, engaging Rwandans in the reconstruction of sustainable reconciliation, and in overcoming ethnic divisions.

This program examines the origins of conflict in Rwanda; the social, human, and psychological impacts of genocide; and the challenges and opportunities of post-conflict restoration. Students learn from Rwandan and Ugandan academics as well as local and international professionals working in the areas of transitional justice, peace building, and post-conflict reconciliation.

Field visits to genocide memorials, museums, and commissions working toward reconciliation are an essential part of the program. Students also learn about post-conflict reconciliation in a very different context during the program's two-week excursion to northern Uganda.

Through the program's six-week homestay in Kigali, students are able to share daily life with a Rwandan family.

Highlights

The program is based in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city. Kigali is home to many commissions, organizations and government bodies related to the program's study of post-genocide restoration and peace building. A major genocide memorial and information center is located in the neighborhood of Gisozi.

Kigali is a modern, medium-sized city in which clear signs of a successful recovery from the devastating impact of the 1994 genocide are visible. However, parts of the city also reflect the poor living conditions many Rwandans still endure. Kigali's neighborhoods stretch out over the many hills on which the city was built. The hills provide breathtaking views over Kigali and the surrounding valleys.

The program's thematic seminar features lecturers by leading Rwandan academics and professionals working in the areas of genocide studies, peace building and development.

Key topics of study include:

* The origins of conflict, ethnicity, and genocidal outbreak in Rwanda
* Social and psychological impacts on genocide survivors and their descendants
* National and international involvement in genocide prevention and peace building
* Interrelation between peace, justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness
* Refugees and displaced people in post-conflict environments
* The institutional and collective strategies of remembrance or forgetting, and strategies to fight denial
* Rwandan history and culture

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$:

Cost Includes:

Credit Available

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Group living
  • Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves
  • Letters of Reference
  • Physical Exam/Health Records
  • Transcript
  • Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
3 weeks
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
  • Exit Debriefing Abroad
  • Job and Internship Network
SIT Study Abroad's Mission Statement

A pioneer in experiential, field-based study abroad, SIT offers semester, summer, and academic year programs for undergraduate students in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as comparative programs in multiple locations.

 

Programs focus on critical global issues in specific geographical and cultural contexts using an interdisciplinary approach. Studying with host country faculty and living with families, students gain a deep appreciation for local cultures and become immersed in diverse topics ranging from the politics of identity to post-conflict transformation, from global health to environmental policy. 

Year Founded

1932

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