Yesterday was the last day of our human rights workshop. We spent most of the day split up into groups creating action plans to implement in order to promote human rights here in Rwanda. I ended up speaking with one of the facilitators of the workshop who is in the middle of creating a program to counsel and educate the children living in a brothel in Butare. His passion was contagious and now I'm involved with his plans. As we discussed the project, I learned of his past. I don't feel comfortable sharing it on this public blog, but I will say that he has already lived one thousand lives, and has experienced things that no human being should. He was forced to grow up and become a parent to his younger borthers and sisters, yet he is not bitter. "If I broke down, then what example would I set for my brothers and sisters? It would hurt them." So instead, he has carved out an incredible model for his family. He has founded and runs several clubs, teaches young kids to dance, facilitated our workshop - all the while attending university. You would not believe the resilience of these people. I think that is why I'm so attracted to this country. You can feel the energy and strength of the human spirit.

Today was our day off, and a couple of my friends and I went to the market. On our way out (carrying bags of gifts) we were mobbed by a group of street children, barefoot and dusty. They held out their hands, but instead of asking for money they whispered, "amazi". They wanted our water. These children are truly desperate. We gave our water away and they shared it between themselves. But how terrible I felt that I had just spent do much money on meaningless wood carvings and they are starving.

There is a public school system here in Rwanda, but children like them cannot afford it. Technically it is free, but the schools impose fees that goes to the teachers to encourage them to actually teach. The teachers are also barely making it by. It is hard to see so many problems and know that you cannot take them all on. I've been reminding myself everyday of the Talmudic verse, "Saving a single life is like saving the world."

Time for me to go. On my way to this internet cafe I gave a soccer ball away to a group of children. I'm hoping to go play with them before the sun goes down.