24°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Making a difference
Local student one of seven who went to Rwanda under World Vision program
Alana Robert, a student at the University of Manitoba, worked in Rwanda this past summer. Robert wants to go to law school and specialize in human rights law. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Alana Robert had not been taught about the Rwandan genocide before she went to Rwanda this summer -- even though she was a world issues student in high school.
"The genocide? That's the year (1994) I was born," Robert said on the University of Manitoba campus, where she just started first year. "Learning about genocide is nothing I was ever taught in school."
But Robert was already developing a keen sense of social justice while attending St. Mary's Academy.
It started in Grade 9, at a conference "that brought together students from the Sisters of the Holy Name schools in Canada, the U.S. and Lesotho," she said.
That conference focused on AIDS, fresh water as a human right and human trafficking.
In Grade 12, Robert applied to World Vision to be one of only seven Canadian students to go to Rwanda this summer.
"From across Canada, there were hundreds of applicants... how we would make a difference, the career path we would go down," she explained.
Robert was one of the seven.
She travelled to the capital city of Kigali, and to a small rural town, Gashora, where she met families affected by the genocide.
"The memories are still there. We saw just how tragic it was," Robert said. "The country's beautiful but the mass poverty is really difficult to see.
"I definitely came away with a new perspective on the struggles people have to go through on a daily basis," she said.
Planning to major in political science, Robert wants to go on to law school at the U of M, specializing in human rights law.
"We have a really good human rights law program and we're getting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights," Robert pointed out. "I'm very excited for the opening."
As part of her World Vision program, Robert will be available throughout the year to make presentations to schools about her trip to Rwanda.
"Mostly high schools -- trying to motivate them to make a difference," she said.
"I'm going to take this experience and see what I can do in my community."
Robert can be contacted at alana.wvya@gmail.com .
nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 22, 2012 J14
More Faith
- Back to Top
- Return to Faith
Poll
Most Popular Faith
- The old wooden church
- Manitoba judge mulls how to handle brothers' sex abuse allegations
- Faith Briefs
- Winnipeg Catholics able to worship in Latin again
- Differing interpretations of Bible's message on helping poor at heart of NC capitol protests
- Retiring pipe organist plays with 'pure soul'
- Christians to offer apology at Gay Pride Parade
- Supreme Court will hear Quebec high school's appeal against ethics course ruling
- Understanding Messianic Judaism
- A power struggle
- The old wooden church
- Quebec soccer suspension to have major impact on refs, players and tournaments
- Vatican's credit card debacle far longer and costlier than disclosed
- Manitoba judge mulls how to handle brothers' sex abuse allegations
- Ex-altar boy testifies priest accused of sex assault would walk around naked
- Differing interpretations of Bible's message on helping poor at heart of NC capitol protests
- Christians to offer apology at Gay Pride Parade
- Supreme Court will hear Quebec high school's appeal against ethics course ruling
- Faith Briefs
- The Word in the digital world
- Christians to offer apology at Gay Pride Parade
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Quebec soccer federation to kids with turbans: Play somewhere else
- Christian gathering will kick off new football stadium
- Church, state and tax receipts
- Vatican spokesman attending St. B diocesan gathering
- The old wooden church
- Quebec soccer suspension to have major impact on refs, players and tournaments
- Ritual bath a mysterious Jewish commandment
- A power struggle
- The old wooden church
- Quebec soccer suspension to have major impact on refs, players and tournaments
- Differing interpretations of Bible's message on helping poor at heart of NC capitol protests
- Manitoba judge mulls how to handle brothers' sex abuse allegations
- Church, state and tax receipts
- Why would Mennonites oppose anti-bullying laws?
- The old wooden church
- A power struggle
- Remembering Holocaust victims
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Vatican spokesman attending St. B diocesan gathering
- The Word in the digital world
- Quebec soccer suspension to have major impact on refs, players and tournaments
- Differing interpretations of Bible's message on helping poor at heart of NC capitol protests
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.