Buffalo State 2024 Rwanda Delegation Documents Life-Changing Experiences | News

Every year since 2012, Buffalo State’s Anne Frank Project (AFP) and SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Drew Kahn bring a delegation of students, faculty and staff, community leaders and supporters to the AFP in Rwanda to learn more about East Africa, reconciliation and conflicts. management. The delegation trains local teachers and community leaders to use story-based learning and visits schools, villages, genocide memorials, government offices, national parks and cultural centers.

Discover the experiences of 11 Buffalo State students in the 2024 delegation through their blogs and travel vlogs on the AFP website:

Jémie Bennett, Early childhood education And Theater’24: “Today I conquered one of my biggest fears: heights. The journey began with a feeling of dread as I thought about the canopy that awaited me. Our path started with a scenic trail, where the beauty of the trees, mountains, hills and horizon was breathtaking…” more

Dylan Carter, International relationships’25: “Being with the children in the grounds was a real treat. I was a little shy at first. I didn’t know how they would receive me – would they look at me or be afraid? – but they embraced me from the start…” more

Danaé Hardy, Early childhood education’24: “Rwanda has a remarkable people and culture. Every day I learn something new…” more

Esteri Iradukunda, International Relations, ’26: “I loved how the teachers were so engaged in learning and how excited they were about teaching SBL (story-based learning) to their students…” more

Rusi Mbabazi, International Relations, ’25: vlog

Jeanvier Nkurunziza, Theater’24: “I visited a garden full of flowers / Under the flowers I saw a pile of relics / So I stood there as my heart bled with tears / And the bones began to crumble inside… » more

Taliyah Oaks, Media production’24: “We visited the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, one of the churches where the Tutsi were hiding from the perpetrators of the genocide, and it was a memorial/museum that I will never forget…” more

Devon Pernell, Biology’25: “The area we explored was beautiful, the views of the hills and the streets were full of life. I didn’t expect this when I started the course. We are always shown photos of Africa in ruins, without ever highlighting its beauty…”more

Seven souls, Individualized studies’24: “Being here today and having the opportunity to learn about their stories, I learned that forgiveness is not for the other person, but for you. Holding a grudge is a heavy weight to carry and will cause you even more pain over time…” more

Renata Tumusabire, Criminal justice’25:vlog

Min Zo, Theater’25: “We visited a reconciliation village where perpetrators and victims live together in peace. Amazing, right? We had the chance to hear testimony from both sides before being able to ask questions…” more

Photo courtesy of Drew Kahn and the Anne Frank Project.