Briarcliff High School’s Coalition for Human Dignity welcomed Gilbert Sezirahiga, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and director of the Murambi Memorial Site. Students in social studies classes had the opportunity to meet and listen to Sezirahiga, view a short film titled “Ghosts of Rwanda” and engage in a short question-and-answer period.
Sezirahiga travels the world sharing his experiences. At 17, he suffered insurmountable losses, witnessed horrendous atrocities, and later took to the front line in the battle against deadly militia forces. After leaving the army, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology, specializing in trauma and other psychological problems related to the genocide.
“The government created the feeling that my people were not human,” said Sezirahiga, who discussed in depth the powers and dangers of propaganda, intolerance and violence. “We must create a new generation for peace. It is time for discussion to find a solution so people can live in harmony. We must all wake up! It’s our responsibility.”
In arranging this special visit, Student Coalition for Human Dignity adviser Jeanne Clair Cotnoir said it was time to “take out the textbook component and put in the human element.”
The presentation was a powerful summation of the many activities that the Coalition for Human Dignity had been working on for the last few weeks. Sezirahiga’s visit coincided with “Stand4Change Day,” a day in which high school and middle school students were asked to wear their “Briarcliff pride” and demonstrate that Briarcliff stands together against all forms of bullying.
Ms. Cotnoir and Kay Brancato, the club’s middle school adviser, asked classes at both schools to observe a moment of silence at precisely noon to recognize all children who have been bullied. They further encouraged students to be upstanders against bullying, rather than bystanders.
Dr. Lisa Thomas, associate director at American Federation of Teachers, Educational Issues Department, shared new anti-bullying resources that are available to teachers and students. “Last year, more than 1.4 million students representing every state in the U.S. and 40 countries worldwide took a stand signifying that their schools and communities will not tolerate bullying,” said Thomas. “We can make this an even bigger movement and take the next steps toward ending bullying in our schools.”