RR25 Legacy Project

Between April 7th and June 30th 1994, more than 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered because they were born Tutsi, or because they were Hutus who refused to buy into the ethnic cleansing ideology. 25 years later, Rwandans have worked hard to transform their society from a failed state into a success story that others can emulate. Your gift to the Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement will help bring the lessons learned from this success story to our community as we look for creative ways to foster reconciliation in Canada.

The significance of 25 years of reconstruction and reconciliation in Rwanda calls for the creation of a legacy project to preserve historical memory and build understanding through deliberate community development action. Simon Fraser University’s Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement (IDRE), in collaboration with Hogan’s Alley Society and Building Bridges with Rwanda is building a plan to convene a bi-annual conference that will bring academics, civil society, businesses, and other change-agents to engage in a dialogue. At the same time, IDRE would like to lead a bi-annual summer studio in Rwanda to foster reconciliation, mutual understanding, collaboration and proactive peace-making initiatives.

The goal of these two initiatives will be to explore how the Rwandan development model can be applied to the Canadian context, and serve as an example of constructive reconciliation.

We need the support of the larger community to realize the goals of this ambitious project. Please make a donation to the Institute for Diaspora Research and Engagement so we can make this important work happen, and ensure that the lessons of Rwanda are never forgotten.