Rwanda Genocide's Tough Lessons On 'Othering'
Joining NPR’s Tell Me More podcast is Mishy Lesser. She's the learning director for the Coexist Learning Project and she was in charge of developing the curriculum. Also included in the interview is Joanie Landrum. She teaches English as a second language at East Hartford High School in Connecticut and she used to this film in a lesson for students.
“Creators of the new documentary "Coexist" spoke to Rwandan genocide survivors about forgiveness and reconciliation. Now they're bringing those lessons to American students.
CELESTE HEADLEE, HOST:
This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Celeste Headlee. Michel Martin is away. The nation of Rwanda is marking 20 years since the genocide that claimed more than 800,000 lives. And decades after the killing, survivors on both sides are learning how to forgive and how to be forgiven. But it's a complicated, painful process for everyone involved.
FATUMA NDANGIZA: Much as we are doing reconciliation, we still have peace spoilers. People want to spoil peace. People are still die-hards. Some people who committed genocide - but up to now, they don't feel remorse for what they did.”
Continue reading or listening at NPR.
Coexist airs tonight across the country (and you can watch online too)
We invite you to watch the broadcast premiere of Coexist on the World Channel tonight at 6pm and 9pm (and tomorrow at 10am and 4pm). See below for detailed airtimes in cities across the United States. You can also watch Coexist right now on Amazon (U.S.) and on Google Play (worldwide)!
There are multiple opportunities to learn more about the Upstander Project and our film:
Listen to Upstander Director Dr. Mishy Lesser and East Hartford High School Language rts teacher Joanie Landrum as they describe the yearlong pilot project now underway at EHHS in East Hartford, Connecticut. They are featured on on NPR's Tell Me More this afternoon. (Search for the airtime in your city here or download the podcast here)
Read the review of Coexist in the New York Times
Click the map below to download a listing of when you can watch Coexist in your area
