From Nyagatare to the EU Embassy: A Week of Rights, Realities, and Resolve

Rwanda Bridges to Justice is involved in many sectors in order to further the rule of law and human rights in Rwanda. In addition to helping ensure rights and freedom from torture in correctional facilities, something that has been a significant focus in my first three weeks with the organization, RBJ works extensively with youth in a variety of ways. Besides creating justice clubs in schools spanning all five Rwandan provinces, visiting schools to teach about rights and justice, and putting on youth programs to promote knowledge of justice and rights education and decrease the youth incarceration rate, RBJ also visits youth correctional facilities. 

This week, RBJ went to Nyagatare Juvenile Correctional Facility for a later celebration of the Day of the African Child. Bringing Fanta and sporting goods, RBJ helped the youths have fun for a day, enjoy some simple pleasures, and break the established routine at the facility. Every week thus far, I’ve been left amazed at the reach the RBJ has been able to achieve, and it’s a testament to the impressive and diligent work of my colleagues, who put so much of their hearts and time into ensuring that one day, all people will have their deserved rights in Rwanda.

Additionally, Friday brought a very interesting event at the EU Embassy. It was a gathering of numerous civil society organizations (CSOs) that will receive EU funding for a variety of initiatives. Ranging from supporting legal aid for vulnerable populations to promoting climate initiatives, these initiatives are meant to support Rwandan infrastructure and provide funding to sectors that are able to make a large impact in their respective fields. I attended the event with two of my wonderful colleagues, and met so many incredibly interesting people. I learned a massive amount about how funding operates from the EU, and how dependent many things around the world are on international funding. I had many discussions about USAID and the rapidly diminishing funds that are leaving many organizations and initiatives in precarious, even debilitated, circumstances. It’s one thing to hear about these things from thousands of miles away. This past semester, the Comparative Legal Student Scholars put on a talk with Lit Tazewell, USAID Resident Legal Advisor and Acting Mission Director in Zambia. He discussed the direct ground effects of losing aid in Zambia, and I listened diligently, believing that, as one usually does, I was able to have a complete understanding and grasp of the situation. Of course, until you see and feel the impact, that grasp isn’t truly there, and I’m figuring that out here quite fast. As much as I could hear about the gutting of USAID, I couldn’t have understood the true impacts without being in a place where the effects are felt so deeply. It’s really rather sad to see, but as much as I see it, I know that I’ll never really feel the true impacts of such a loss. I do, however, have a newly invigorated drive to do as much as possible to help those in need, wherever that may be.