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Get inspired! Read the personal stories of TakingITGlobal members from around the world.





alisonkburkett
Canada

Nearly 20 years have passed since the genocide of millions of Rwandan Tutsi at the hands of the Hutu militia. For Canadian and 2012 Sprout graduate, Alison Burkett, the healing from the devastating destruction that occurred in April 1994 has brought with it gifts of love, personal purpose and partnership.

Write to Remember 1994 is a co-creation of Alison Burkett and her husband and genocide survivor, Emery Rutagonya. The project was designed to help Rwandan genocide survivors document their stories of tragedy, grief, and survival in a safe and supportive environment toward healing. Alison, a 28-year old educator born and raised in Toronto, believes that sharing these stories is not only key for the survivors but also for the “outsiders”. They have the potential to connect new generations of youth from vastly different walks of life “to the human heart, to the resilience of life and to our collective responsibility in the face of crimes against humanity.”

During their pilot, Write To Remember 1994 delivered 8 dynamic and innovative workshops to over 600 Ontario high school and university students. Participants expressed both empathy for those who have experienced genocide and an impassioned commitment to preventing future tragedies.

Alison and her team have diligently pursued a number of partnerships with leaders in the field of genocide awareness and prevention in Toronto including Facing History and Ourselves, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre and Professor Amanda Grzyb at Western University. Additionally, through collaboration with the Rwandan Diaspora Association, Write to Remember 1994 supported the coordination of the 19th Commemoration at Ryerson University in April 2013. Alison has noted the impact of these collaborations as having brought more opportunities to deliver workshops to students, receive in-kind donations and enhance professional visibility within the Toronto Human Rights/Genocide community.

As part of the evolution of their project, Alison and her co-founder, have established a larger umbrella not-for-profit organization called Memory and Healing Foundation under which Write to Remember 1994 will continue its work. The Memory and Health Foundation exists to create well-being in communities impacted by genocide and war through offerings such as outreach support to survivors, collecting and preserving stories, and inspiring others to learn about and get involved in the cause.

Alison and her project have been profiled in an upcoming Sprout webisode series featuring social entrepreneurs as well as an article highlighting Write to Remember 1994’s unique approach to healing and reconciliation.
She says this about the role of the Pearson Fellowship in bolstering Write to Remember 1994’s success: “The Fellowship was a remarkable opportunity to address important personal and project needs. It gave me the opportunity to learn from more experienced people, to receive small amounts of funding, to practice management skills, and to develop a network for collaboration.”


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