In association with: Project F.E.A.T and J.D.C By: Ariella Reichman

Rwanda is a small landlocked country in sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda is approximately the size of the state of Maryland. Containing approximately 9 million people, having about the same population as New York City It is the most densely populated country in Africa. Known as the "land of a thousand hills" because of having a stunning natural beauty. There are mild temperatures and lush vegetation.

A genocide is a deliberate destruction of an ethnic, cultural, or political group In Rwanda, there were three ethnic groups: Twa, making up less than one percent of the population; Hutu, making up 85 percent of the population; Tutsi, making up about 15 percent of the population. Among these groups there was only one set culture. The people of the different groups were able to inter marry and become the other group.

During the late 19 th century, Germany owned Rwanda as a colony, until 1918 when Belgium took it. The Belgium's perceived the Hutus and the Tutsis as having distinct ethnic groups. The Tutsis were deemed as more powerful and given the throne, leaving the Hutus, the majority of the country. During the early 1930’s Belgium issued an ID system recognizing Rwandans by ethnicity making it impossible for Hutus to become Tutsis and vice versa. 1959, the Hutus overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and about 150,000 were driven into exile in neighboring countries. By 1962, Belgium, like many European colonial powers in Africa, granted independence to Rwanda, leaving the Hutus in power amid lingering ethnic tensions.

In 1990 a group of Tutsis formed a rebel group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war with Rwanda’s Hutu government. By 1993, a power-sharing peace agreement was reached, but Hutu extremists rejected this and called for the elimination of all Tutsis, calling them cockroaches. On April 6, 1994, the Hutu President’s plane was shot down by still-unknown forces; this was the beginning of the genocide. Within an hour of the plane shooting, roadblocks were set up in the capital city of Kigali and the killings began. Over the next three months, Tutsis as well as moderate Hutus were killed. The genocide came to an end not when the global community intervened, but when Tutsi rebel forces were able to overpower the Hutu regime and take over the country. Approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution – fled to neighboring countries. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but several thousand remain in the neighboring Congo and have formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in million children were left forever robbed of their families and homes.

The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) aims to create a safe and structured residential community for orphaned children in Rwanda. The village will be a place of hope, where traumatized youth can "dry their tears" (Agahozo) and "live in peace" (Shalom). Within this caring environment, the rhythm of life will be restored, so that youth who have been through great trauma will find a home and a community, as well as a place to learn and become leaders for tomorrow. ASYV was established by the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) along with groups in Ethiopia and Israel. Project F.E.A.T, Friends Enabling Achievements Together, is supporting ASYV by collecting and donating items for the children of the village. The first residents moved in fall The high school is set to open and classes begin January 2009.

Eventually will be home to 500 orphans, graduating 120 people from high school each year 143 acre site overlooks Lake Mugesera in Rwanda’s Eastern Province Groundbreaking held August 17, 2007 First residents set to move in Fall 2008 High school set to open and classes begin January 2009 Village will include: Residential housing in a group-home model Special graduate and visitor housing Fully-functional high school Science and computer laboratories Arts center Chapel Full-service library, including computer rooms Kitchen and dining hall Gym Medical clinic Sports fields Sustainable agricultural farm

English is the main language, and without having very much money or books, they could really use the donation of textbooks to learn from and chapter books to read for entertainment. Besides books these kids, like every other kid, want to have fun. The main two sports in Rwanda are Volleyball and Soccer, I would like to collect Soccer balls and Volleyballs, along with the books, to help these children live life to its fullest extent.