Update - 2 Mar 2011

The mobilization for Walk to Remember 2011 continues in high schools and universities throughout Kigali.  Simultaneously, Walk to Remember - India is underway with school mobilization and team trainings.

Today, the Walk to Remember - Rwanda Committee members and PLP were invited to an event at Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux (LNDC) organized by PLP-LNDC.  The topic of the event was “Towards a Better Future” and it was created to encourage the students to take an active role in creating a better future for Rwanda and the world through developing their own talents. 

Marc GWAMAKA, Director of PLP Rwanda, explained the purpose of Walk to Remember 2011 to the students and took the opportunity to welcome new members of PLP at LNDC.  Students told the Walk to Remember Committee that they really understand the values and objectives of the event. They promised to be part of Walk to Remember 2011 by spreading peace and love in this country and abroad.

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- Claude 

Meet Dadi

Dadi is also a founding member of Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP). He serves as the Head of Departments and is involved in many of PLP's community service projects, such as, Mentor a Child. Dadi has played an instrumental role in launching Walk to Remember since its inception and, in 2010, lead Walk to Remember activities in Kenya. He is a leader among his peers who is highly respected for his work-ethic and integrity. Dadi works in Business Development for AXIS, the leading IT firm in Kigali, and is currently assisting in the coordination of Walk to Remember activities in Rwanda and throughout East Africa.

1) Why do you participate as an organizer for W2R? What drives you?

Reasons for being one of the organizers of Walk to Remember are many, some of them being personal and others, social reasons. Walk to Remember intends to promote unity and reconciliation and having seen what divisionism and hatred can do a country I must do everything I can to have a united society so that it never happens again.

2) What makes you proud to be Rwandan?

Hummm, well…a lot of things, the culture, the values, the 1000 hills, and the leadership of the country

3) What do you wish people knew about Rwanda?

Well, I just wish they knew Rwanda the way it is now. I wish people would just update their views on Rwanda.

4) What is your vision for Rwanda and the entire continent in ten years?

The vision I have for Rwanda in the next ten years is a united people and a stable country, economically and socially. For the continent, I’d love to see Africa stable politically and self-sustainable in terms of production.

5) How do you bring about change in your community?

I think the best way to bring change in a society is by being the change yourself. I always try to do the right thing so that I can bring change.

6) What do you think is the leading cause of war or genocide in one word?

Hatred (and evil)

7) If you were asked to describe yourself with one word, what would it be?

Calm

8) What do you want to be remembered for?

Someone who had a good impact on people’s lives.

9) Favorite Rwandan delicacy?

Ikivuguto (milk)

10) Your definition of success?

Accomplishing good acts

Bonus: What song makes you want to bust a move? 
"Back it up and Dump it" by Cali Swag District, but I don’t "bust a move", I retired :P

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Thanks, Dadi!! 

Peace and Love Proclaimers

The Peace and Love Proclaimers initiated Walk to Remember in 2009. 

Peace and Love Proclaimers (“PLP”) is a movement created for the youth, by the youth. Through a series of grassroots initiatives, PLP empowers students from around the world to take responsibility for establishing a more unified nation within their respective countries.  Founded in 2007 by a group of young Rwandans, PLP consists of over 200 members spread throughout Rwanda, India, USA and Malaysia. 

In Rwanda, PLP provides school-fees for underprivileged children and organizes clubs in secondary schools and universities to teach the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as promote AIDS awareness and children’s rights. Programming is designed to cater to the specific needs of each community within each country their members are present.

Since 2007, PLP has hosted numerous community events in Rwanda such as The Watchman Visit and Good in the Hood as well as established three annual events.  Their annual events include: The Global Youth Forgiveness Conference, Walk to Remember, and The Chain of Hope. As PLP expands internationally, the underlying principles of hope, unity, and social responsibility remain the foundation for each club, initiative and event created worldwide.

To learn more about PLP, checkout their website at www.peaceloveproclaimers.org or find them on Facebook Peace and Love Proclaimers.

Meet Jean Michel

Jean Michel is one of the founding members of Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP).  Launched in 2007 in Kigali, Rwanda, PLP is a movement for the youth, by the youth that currently consists of over 200 members worldwide who take an active role in "being the change" in their communities. Walk to Remember was initiated by PLP in 2009 and since then has spread to eight countries around the world.  Jean Michel is currently a student at Towson University in Maryland, USA studying International Development and Policy. Jean Michel is a leader among his peers who is full of wisdom and compassion. He is currently coordinating the Walk to Remember activities in the USA. 

1) Why do you participate as an organizer for W2R? What drives you?

For a long time I have always thought that Rwanda owed something to the world, in the sense that we had a responsibility to teach the world how hatred and bigotry can lead to genocide and how once done its really hard to repair!! W2R gives us that platform.

2) What makes you proud to be Rwandan?

A lot of things from the customs, music, language but most of all I am proud of Rwanda because I see it as a work in progress.

3) What do you wish people knew about Rwanda?

I wish people knew the stories of the people I work with! People who lost their families, friends etc. but who are working day and night to bring peace and healing to a nation that is hurt.

4) What is your vision for Rwanda and the entire continent in ten years?

I want to see a Rwanda with people who are dignified and who can be the best that they can be. I want to see a Rwanda and an Africa that is self-sufficient where its people are not killing each other or dying of hunger and disease.

5) How do you bring about change in your community?

I try to live a changed life that inspires others to do the same. Am working on different projects with PLP, projects to bring about dialogue among the young people projects to help the needy etc..

6) What do you think is the leading cause of war or genocide in one word?

EVIL

7) If you were asked to describe yourself with one word, what would it be?

FREE

8) What do you want to be remembered for?

I want people to remember me as someone who tried to be the hands and feet of God on the earth.

9) Favorite Rwandan delicacy?

Ubugari  nisombe (I miss it)

10) Your definition of success?

Someone who changed the life of people around him in a positive manner.

Bonus: What song makes you want to bust a move? I don’t know the title but the song that goes "I got a feeling uuuuuuuuhhh that tonight is gonna be a good night" 

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Thanks, Jean Michel!!