Kinners hit Rwanda for the Right To Play Global Youth Summit!
Jason Wong (current 4th year KIN Student.
In August, we had the chance to travel to Kigali, Rwanda, with Right To Play for the 2012 Global Youth Summit. The Summit, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, allowed us to connect and engage with a large number of youth from all over Canada, as well as with amazing individuals from Western and Francophone Africa. Our love for Right To Play and the sport for development movement brought us together for a week filled with incredible experiences. We were so proud to be representing the best coast, UBC, and the best faculty KIN – here are some of our highlights!
Jason:
Coming back home from such an overwhelming and life changing experience, it has taken me quite some time to wrap my head on all that had happened but I have finally come up with insights I can share. First, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming the people of Rwanda are. They treat you like family and you could feel the genuineness in their hugs, their laughter, and their smiles. I learned so much from the time spent exchanging stories and learning about their culture/country. I learned that they really value interpersonal relationships, family, and the goodness of a person on the inside rather than on the outside. I also learned to my misfortune how amazing Rwandians can dance!
I was also struck by how happy the children in Rwanda were. We had an opportunity to visit a local primary school which incorporated Right To Play games into their curriculum. The moment we entered the school, we were swarmed by curious laughing children all eager to talk to us and to get our picture. I felt like a superstar! We then played games with the kids and it was difficult not to feel like a six year old kid again. Language was a barrier but we found it wasn’t essential, as we realized that we could communicate just as well through actions and play. I was amazed at how engaged and enthusiastic the kids where to participate and learn during the activities. I definitely learned a thing or two as well. It really made me appreciate how fortunate I am to be getting an education at one of the best universities (and faculty!) in the world and taught me not take it for granted.
The most surreal and memorable moment happened during our visit to the Ntarama Genocide Memorial. Less than 20 years ago, Rwanda underwent one of the worst genocide in history. Natarama Memorial was the site of one of the most gruesome killings and almost all the contents that were left after the attack were preserved including bones, clothing, books, and weapons. As we left the memorial feeling quite shaken and sad, I noticed a group of local youth passing by with a soccer ball made of cloth rags tied together with string. They stopped, came over, and without a word, passed the ball to one of the Canadian delegates. He kicked the soccer ball back to the youth and before you knew it a circle formed and everyone was smiling and laughing. Behind me was one of the most horrible killing sites in all of Rwanda; on the right, were a group of kids laughing as they rode by on bikes, oblivious (or perhaps accustomed) to the importance of the memorial, and more interested in the fact that so many foreigners were in their village; and even further in the distance, was an amazing view of Rwanda’s beautiful sunset. The reality is that in Rwanda, most people still carry with them the emotional burden of having lost family members in the genocide. Yet in less than 20 years, Rwanda has been able to rebuild its country dramatically. Somehow, the people have been able to look beyond what has happened in the past, and to display a continuous, genuine positive nature that makes the people so utterly inspirational.
So, lesson learned: there is immense hope and courage that exists in our world and limitless potential for all of us. Take it from an HKIN alum who suffered from an identity crisis post graduation… savour every moment you’ve got at UBC and let yourself be drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. If Development through Sport is an area that you’re interested in, talk to your professors in the area of socio-cultural studies or join the UBC Right To Play Club and explore what opportunities exist there! If you want to learn more about sport for development or hear more about our Rwanda adventures, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us!
Right To Play UBC rtpatubc@gmail.com
Introduction by Cameron Paul