EASTERN PROVINCE

RWAMAGANA – The University of Hamburg, in New York has agreed to partner with the Eastern Province in order to improve education standards in the area.

This was revealed yesterday by a delegation of three American scholars from the University of Hamburg, after holding talks with the provincial governor, Dr. Ephraim Kabaija.

"We had fruitful discussions with the governor, and we are so grateful that he welcomed our interests,” Dr. Mark Craw Ford told The New Times.

The scholars were led by a long term admirer of Rwanda Matt Meader, who witnessed horrible scenarios during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Those that attended the 14th commemoration of the genocide, remember him for the emotional speech he delivered in Nyanza-Kicukiro.

Matt Meader says he has still maintained his love for Rwanda.

"I have all the reasons to love Rwanda. It is a great phenomenon that the country which witnessed genocide yesterday, is totally free from chaos,” he remarked.

"Rwanda will always be part of my life. What I am trying to do for Rwanda, is more of a responsibility than anything else.”

According to the partnership, the scholars will among other things, intervene in teaching English in different schools of the province.

They also plan to facilitate students from the province to access studies in Hamburg, and at the same time students from their own schools to do their internship in Rwanda.

"Education is a great foundation for the transformation of any society. It is therefore through education that Rwanda can achieve its goals. That is why we look forward to partnering with the Eastern Province in Education,” Dr. Mark Craw Ford, added.

The group moves along with a genocide specialist attached to the University of Hamburg, Carl Wilkens.

Talking to The New Times, Carl said: "I am in charge of genocide studies at the university, and I have no doubt that my students would gain a lot, if they came to Rwandan schools. Rwanda has a huge experience to teach even the laziest scholar on earth.”

On comparison between the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and the holocaust, he said, "There are a lot of commonalities in the two genocides. They all used the media to instigate hatred in the population, and so on and so forth.”

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