Taylor Reports from Kigali, Rwanda
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This morning in Kigali, Rwanda, I attended two events: first, a roundtable discussion on education with First Lady Laura Bush, First Lady Jeannette Kagame and a group of Rwandan schoolgirls and second, a press conference with President Bush and President Kagame.
The schoolgirls at the roundtable were very nervous, but they each stood up and told Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Kagame their stories. Their ages ranged from 16 to 18 and they all came from families who could not afford to pay for their schooling. Each girl was a beneficiary of the African Education Initiative - in other words, your tax dollars and mine put these girls in school. And that was an amazing thing to see.
Education for girls in poor countries means that they are much more likely to earn decent wages as adults and much less likely to become infected with HIV. Mrs. Bush asked them if they all knew how to prevent AIDS: they all said they did.
One other thing that surprised me: more than half of the girls were heading to universities to study physics or chemisty.
The press conference with President Bush and President Kagame focused on Rwanda’s impressive economic growth since the terrible genocide here that ended in 1994. Rwanda is a country with little corruption and big plans to become a technology leader in Africa. Even though they grow amazing vegetables and fruits here, Rwandans know that their land-locked country must find an industry other than agriculture if their people are to work their way out of poverty.
Now I am back in the White House press corps filing center. It’s funny to listen to the TV and radio reporters filing their stories. Surely they have seen many interesting things on this trip so far - but all of them are talking about the bed net factory they visited yesterday. They are amazed that children die from malaria transmitted by mosquito bites, that something as simple as an insecticide treated bed net can save lives…and that the United States is not only saving lives by buying these bednets for families - we are also providing jobs to the workers in the factory and better lives for their families as well.
-Taylor Royle
- Previous Post Talking Malaria From On-The-Ground in Tanzania
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February 19, 2008 at 11:26 am
Taylor, your report is amazing, thank you. what an opportunity of a lifetime. we in RESULTS are pusing for the Education for All legislation to pass thru this year, this administration, that would help put exponentially more of these girls, all children, into schools. and such briliant hard-working, hard-studying girls who thru degrees in chemistry can pursue medicine, agriculture, research . . . they are the future of their countries. that was a great idea having them address our president and first lady.
i really believe the info you’re sending back can help empower us to lobby for debt cancellation, for education, for global health issues, for commerce now as like you say the economy is much improved there. and the press corp touring the bednet factory and really getting a grip on what one can do and the lives it can save, priceless. i hope they realize that while our kids often enjoy separate rooms and separate beds that there most entire families sleep under that one net each night. and i hope these press corp stay affected, infected even, by what they are experiencing and keep these important issues on the front burner of the media, where they belong.
great great work, i’m glad you’re there. stay safe, stay close,
sammi =)
February 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I am glad of which Africa raises to the head and prayer so that many take to the so shining example that this demonstrating to the president Mr. Bush who still having his own problems does not forget a country that tries to rise long ago and that feels very thanked for with the Spaniards and unidenses states.
It is already hour which we find out that Africa also comprises of our planet, our house.
February 20, 2008 at 11:58 am
I just wanted to say that if you think about it the girls choice of physics and chemistry is logical. These two sciences are very important in solving the riddles of malaria and hiv/aids. They are really just following their maternal instincts, by preparing to help their African family. What is amazing to me is how they are following the example of Mr. Mandela and Bishop Tutu, in working to mend Rwanda and make it one country.
February 20, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Taylor:
Thanks for the well documented piece. Nicely done. We have just launched Think Humanity, which is aimed at helping a refugee settlement in Kyangwali, Uganda, providing medicated nets for this community of almost 20,000. We had our first MaNdate (Meds & Nets) last December where we distributed (through local feet on the ground) over 750 nets. We are planning another MaNdate in June and hope to do even more. We will be traveling there to help this effort. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria and it is a problem that should be fixed. We’re doing our small part and appreciate those that are also trying to be a part of the solution. Feel free to contact me should you wish to see a Think HuMaNity newsletter. I would post our website, but it’s still under construction, but watch for thinkhumanity.org…it should be functional in a week or so…
Respecffully submitted,
Jim Heckel
February 20, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Great work Taylor and One. I can’t believe that I live in a time when we actually may realize world peace, an end to poverty, and an eventual realization of true humanity.
I really thought that the above would not be solved for several more generations, but it seems that in my life-time, our Earth and her inhabitants will unite in love.
Keep up the great work, we’ll all do our part to hold leaders accountable for their actions, destruction and/or humanitarian work. No longer can they lead strictly with financial and business objectives in mind. People power!
February 20, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Taylor, a touching and beautiful report about the situation in Rwanda. I appreciate our government and our President’s leadership in helping Africans. Thank you for giving us a first hand perspective of this visit. May all Americans realize we are incredibly blessed and extend ourselves further to the needs of Africa.
February 21, 2008 at 8:24 am
Taylor,
This was an amazing report. We are so thankful for the picture you painted for us with words. At times it is very difficult for us to try to conceive the magnitiude of Africa’s plight. Tragically, often the “out of sight, out of mind” applies to many of us in America. You have done an amazing job to awaken both a personal and national sense of responsibility. We would pray that our politicians would lay aside their differences long enough to follow the leadership of President Bush in regards to his Africa Initiative and arrive at a financial commitment to these nations in Africa who are sincerely seeking to escape the bondage of disease and poverty. Well done.
February 21, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Im VERY interested in knowing more about Obama’s religious beliefs since he claims to be a member of the United/Trinity Church of Christ and their website clearly states that their mission in life has everything to do with sending out “agents of change” in the hopes of changing the world for the benefit of Africa, the “motherland and the “cradle of civilization”. Will his religious beliefs “unite” the democrats in this country or not? (http: http://www.tucc.org/about.htm).
February 21, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Obama voted against one measure in 2006 that would have denied citizenship or other legal status to illegal immigrants and he voted against another last year that would have allowed police to question individuals about their immigration status if the officers had probable cause to believe that the person was not lawfully present in the United States. Last October, Obama, along with 37 Democrats, 12 Republicans and independents Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, voted to move to a final vote on the “Dream” Act (the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), which would allow illegal immigrants under age 30 to remain in the United States and gain legal status if they attend college or join the military The bill would also have allowed illegal immigrants, if they passed background checks and became permanent legal residents, to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities. In June of 2006 Obama voted against a measure offered by Feingold and Kerry that would have required President Bush to withdraw most United States troops from Iraq by July 1, 2007. All of this info was gathered and analyzed according to how Obama voted while in the senate. think about it.
February 22, 2008 at 4:52 am
HELP AFRICA PEOPLE!!!!WITH THE HELP OF GOD!!!
February 22, 2008 at 7:42 am
Thank you so much for your report .
February 22, 2008 at 7:45 am
I like the report for my country Rwanda and to hear that the girls are planning to study Physics and Chimistry that is wonderful.
And many thanks to the ONE Project for your African initiative
We need more poeple like you.
God may bless you
Peace,Love,Grace and Unity.
Marie Claudine
Rwandan performing artist /Survivor of the Genocide
May 20, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Listen. Do not have an opinion while you listen because frankly, your opinion doesn?t hold much water outside of Your Universe. Just listen. Listen until their brain has been twisted like a dripping towel and what they have to say is all over the floor.
December 7, 2008 at 5:03 am
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