Genocide Survivor Jackson Ndizeye Speaks at Archmere Assembly
This week, Jackson Ndizeye, African refugee and genocide survivor, spoke during the Archmere school assembly. Archmere senior Caroline Quinn met Jackson Ndizeye and learned of his story during her perfomance in the Boal Theatre of the Oppressed this summer, and invited him to Archmere's campus to speak to her peers. BOAL Theatre brings attention to issues such as genocide, ethnic discrimination, gender discrimination and human trafficking. Caroline introduced Jackson to the Archmere assembly on Tuesday.
Jackson Ndizeye had a tumultuous early life. He never knew his father, his mother left him to move from Burundi to his father's country of Rwanda, he lost relatives to genocide in Rwanda and he often found himself fleeing from war-torn areas. Jackson discussed the Rwandan genocide with the Archmere community and its impact on his country. Rather than turn his back on his difficult past, however, Jackson has embraced it, teaching students in the United States about Rwanda, genocide and his life in general.
Jackson shared his story with the students and answered questions. He brought his own personal history and feelings into Archmere to make things real to the students. His current objective is to raise awareness of the genocide, as well as raise funds to provide wind energy for his community in Rwanda. While in the United States, Jackson created Rwindalectric, a nonprofit with intentions to raise funds to introduce electricity to rural areas in Rwanda. The name Rwindalectric is a combination of Rwanda, wind and electricity. He often speaks to high school students to raise awareness, saying “they [American high school students] start to care about people” when he can present the struggles of his own community.
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Jackson Ndizeye had a tumultuous early life. He never knew his father, his mother left him to move from Burundi to his father's country of Rwanda, he lost relatives to genocide in Rwanda and he often found himself fleeing from war-torn areas. Jackson discussed the Rwandan genocide with the Archmere community and its impact on his country. Rather than turn his back on his difficult past, however, Jackson has embraced it, teaching students in the United States about Rwanda, genocide and his life in general.
Jackson shared his story with the students and answered questions. He brought his own personal history and feelings into Archmere to make things real to the students. His current objective is to raise awareness of the genocide, as well as raise funds to provide wind energy for his community in Rwanda. While in the United States, Jackson created Rwindalectric, a nonprofit with intentions to raise funds to introduce electricity to rural areas in Rwanda. The name Rwindalectric is a combination of Rwanda, wind and electricity. He often speaks to high school students to raise awareness, saying “they [American high school students] start to care about people” when he can present the struggles of his own community.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
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