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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Towards a future free of fear
ATTENDING A PEACE EDUCATION TALK AND WORKSHOP GIVEN BY AEGIS TRUST GAVE STUDENTS THE CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO AVOID REPEATING SOME OF THE WORST HORRORS OF THE PAST, SAYS JAMIE CHONG (YEAR 13)
On an ordinary March day, students from SSLP schools Elmgreen and St Thomas the Apostle joined Dulwich College students in attending a far from ordinary workshop, given by Aegis Trust, about the causes of extreme hatred, how these have led to inconceivable forms of violence, and how rebuilding can be achieved in the aftermath of genocide. Dr James Smith, founder and CEO of Aegis Trust, delivered an eye-opening talk about the work that the Trust does. He explained the importance of remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust and other genocides and explained the Trust’s approach to preventing horrors of such a kind, examining the work done by the Trust in repairing communities after the horrors in Bosnia, and in Rwanda, after the attempted annihilation of the Tutsi tribe. It was a transparent and honest talk, and perhaps this was what made it so powerful. We were prompted to examine the role of the West and its institutions in handling genocide, and to look at its reluctance to be involved.
Following Dr Smith’s powerful talk we had a workshop, led by Marc Gwamaka live from Rwanda. In the workshop, we focused on two pathways: one towards violence and the other towards peace. The workshop reminded us that genocide does not happen overnight. We were encouraged to examine the warning signs in current affairs, and to look at ways of de-escalating hatred before it is too late. The section on pathways to peace was especially moving; the story of Grace, a Hutu, and Vanessa, a Tutsi, reminded us of the personal and individual actions anyone could take in countering the violence of genocide. Many of us felt particularly strongly about Grace’s demonstration of immense love in rescuing Vanessa. Perhaps most important was the encouragement for us all to be active in our stance against, and in the prevention of, genocide, and to avoid being bystanders, watching from a foreign country as hatred morphs into violence. Dr Smith made a strong case, urging young people to be involved through writing to their Members of Parliament, and using the privilege of democracy to speak up for those who are unable to do so. This allows us to play our part in preventing genocides from being hidden from international view, as they have been in the past, as well as embracing diversity in our own society.
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