21 Feb 12 – Aegis Students’ new Coordinator, Andy Fearn, last week took part in a trip to Rwanda in order to strengthen the ties between Aegis Students in the UK and the work Aegis is doing in Rwanda.
Andy hopes to build on the good work of his predecessor, Jonny McQuitty, in bringing together students and youth leaders from around around the world, raising awareness about genocide, and equipping students with the skills and confidence needed to work towards a more future free of the scourge of genocide.
“I think that Jonny's done a fantastic job in building Aegis Students up to where it is, and it's a real privilege to be given the opportunity to help the organisation grow and develop into the future. I'm really looking forward to working with our partners in Rwanda, Bosnia and elsewhere to make Aegis Students a truly international network.
“It's been wonderful to have a chance to see first hand the work that Aegis is doing in Rwanda, and to speak to some of the inspirational people involved. I hope that this will be the beginning of many long and fruitful relationships.”
Officially launched in April 2006, Aegis Students has since worked in hundreds of universities and schools across the globe, including the UK, Rwanda and the USA. It offers workshops for schools and universities, designed to combat the rise of racism and exclusion and to promote active citizenship.
Aegis Students also has a growing presence in Rwanda, and runs annual 'Discover Rwanda' field trips to the country for both students and professionals. These trips are designed to provide young people with the chance to meet and engage with survivors of the 1994 genocide, as well as visits to memorials and volunteering opportunities.
‘Discover Bosnia’ field trips, ran in partnership with the ICTY, offer participants a similar experience in relation to the Bosnian war, enabling them to visit sites of significance, meet survivors of the genocidal violence and mass atrocities which occurred there, and learn more about how Bosnians today are seeking to come to terms with that legacy.
Aegis Trust CEO James Smith welcomed Andy to Aegis: “We're delighted to have Andy on board. He has a lot of very valuable experience and enthusiasm, and I am positive that he will be a great asset to Aegis Students and the Aegis Trust.”
