The genocide that shook the small central African country of Rwanda in 1994 is likely a faint memory for most. If it registers at all. Like too many complex, deeply rooted and violent events of the past few decades, this particular short window in time produced incomprehensible sadness. In this case, it took the form of 880,000 brutal murders.
Rwanda is in the Great Lakes region of East-Central Africa
Much has changed since then. Rwanda just re-elected President Paul Kagame to another 7 year term, with 93% of the vote. Though as those familiar with events in the region are aware, not without some question and controversy. But there’s been some upbeat news, too. The economy is doing well; coffee among the major exports. And CNN reported this week on a far more unexpected export, the up-and-coming Rwandan Reggae band, Jah Doves and their musical message of peace.
But the legacy of conflict lives on. Most notably in the faces of the children born of the violence, conceived of rape during the genocide. Teens today, most are shunned by their shamed families. Unable to afford secondary school; to use education to change circumstance.
But even here, there is hope. Thanks to a charitable organization, Foundation Rwanda, established in 2007 to help change things for these children, and their mothers. An organization JWT’s Atlanta office is proud to have been associated with from the beginning. Since that time, a small but dedicated team of people here has worked closely with the founders on a pro-bono basis to help call attention to their cause, and raise funds to begin the cycle of change.
On the subject of the work we’ve done for them, we had a bit of good news of our own recently that we’re also quite proud to share. A promotional “flip book” (shown below), produced by JWT to use at charity events, was recently recognized in its own right. To elaborate, here’s an internal email about it from our ECD, Carl Warner:
“When I was in school, Communication Arts was the advertising book every serious professional and student studied. Each December when the CA Annual was published, it showcased the best work from around the world.
CA’s judges are highly selective. This past year, the Advertising Annual featured just 155 winners chosen from 6,878 entries. Meaning just over 2% made the cut. And CA doesn’t have a black-tie, industry gloat-fest. There are no medals given. A simple, tasteful certificate is what winners receive—that, and the knowledge that the industry and aspiring students will be studying their work. For those reasons, I’ve always felt that getting into the Communication Arts Advertising Annual was the most exclusive of our industry’s 5 most prestigious award shows.
This year, the flip book that JWT Atlanta produced for Foundation Rwanda was accepted into the 2010 Communication Arts Advertising Annual. It’s a very powerful piece for a great cause.
Several people had a role in bringing this project to life: Jeff Harter, David Cohen, George Medland, Buffy Torres. (Plus Brad Kaye—photographer and Tom Janousek who did the retouching)
Very well done. Congratulations to you all. Carl”
Thus far, we’re proud to say we helped Foundation Rwanda raise funds to send approximately 500 of these children to school this year, with a goal of 1,500 in 2011. But to do so, they’ll need more help. So if you feel like many of us here at JWT do about the importance of the Foundation’s mission, we hope you might consider donating too. Every little bit helps. Click here to donate and please feel free to pass this on to your friends and families.
“Have you seen our electric bill?,” my wife Beth said. “Turn the upstairs thermostat up a degree,” she commanded (at least that is how it sounded to me.) “No,” I reasoned (I’m always so reasonable), “it will be too hot in the kids rooms at the other end of the house.” And that is how that discussion ended in at least one liberal leaning ATL HH. You see, I’m all for saving the environment, and a few bucks. But not always at the expense of certain creature comforts.
If you’ve not tried it before, there is nothing to stop you next time you are on a flight that is Gogo (or as the airlines are saying, simply Wi-Fi) enabled. There is a free trial offer on the home page as soon as you open a browser in-flight and you might also see some Gogo people in many terminals handing out free passes. Take them and try it.
do with remote Wi-Fi provider Boingo (available in many airports) and the confusion between the two is likely to be as strong as my own at first between Gogo and the eponymous song I alluded to above. In fact, on a recent flight, a fellow passenger of mine came down the aisle yelling to the Gogo representative handing out free passes, “Boingo guy, Boingo guy! Can I get a free pass?!”
