After a busy few days in Butare, we spent our day in the classroom at SIT learning about risk factors of genocide, women’s roles in before, during, and after the genocide, and perpetrators’ perspectives. First, after breakfast we examined the risk factors of genocide by comparing the genocide in Rwanda to the Bosnian genocide in the early 1990’s. this lecture and discussion gave us a deeper understanding of the causes of the genocide in Rwanda while also showing us how to predict future genocides before they occur. After a short break, a woman who studies women’s status in Rwanda for the Rwandan government visited and talked to us about the roles women held in the genocide and how women were especially vulnerable during the genocide and in its aftermath. Although women in Rwanda held little opportunities or influence in society before the genocide, women were key to the recovery and development of Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide.

For lunch we were free to go get food anywhere we wanted. Many of us opted to order food through an app called Jumia, which is the Rwandan equivalent of Uber Eats. Although we enjoy Rwandan food, most of us happily ordered pizza or Chinese food (we are having some serious American food withdrawals). After lunch, we had the opportunity to listen and talk to two perpetrators of the genocide who spent time in TIG-an option for people convicted of genocide crimes to spend half their sentence doing community service. They shared their stories of getting involved in the genocide, their time in prison, and reentry back into society. We were able to learn a lot about the complex nature of how people got involved in the genocide and the justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation processes that followed.

Finally, we took time to debrief the discussions we had in class today as a group and talk through lingering questions any of us had. I’m going to give a quick shoutout to everyone on this trip, because I am always so impressed by the depth and thoughtfulness of every question and discussion everyone offers, and today was no exception. Before we left for dinner, Hollie gave us a little information about each of our host families, including the occupation of one of the parents and the amount of kids we will be with. Tonight is our last night together at Moucecore, then tomorrow we move in to our host homes (we are all very excited-and very nervous)!