Tufts Students Organize Race for Rwandan Village

Tufts Race4Rwanda 5K to Raise Funds for Youth Village, Local Groups

Above, three Tufts students pose with a “family” at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda. Students at the village are divided into family units made up of 16 boys or girls, a “house mother” and a counselor. From left, Becca Hornthal (junior), Heather Blonsky (junior) and Emily Rutcofsky (junior). Photo courtesy Tufts junior Heather Blonsky.

The following is an announcement from the Race4Rwanda organizers:

Residents, neighbors and friends are invited to join Tufts University students, faculty and staff on Nov. 1 to run or walk in Race4Rwanda, a 5K race benefiting the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, the Medford Family Network and The Welcome Project in Somerville.

Race-day festivities will include prizes for top finishers, speakers on the 1994 Rwandan genocide and a chance to learn about the incredible causes toward which race proceeds will go.

“Fifteen years ago, most of the world stood by as Rwanda literally was torn apart by genocide. We now have an opportunity to do something about it,” said Tufts University President Lawrence Bacow, who in June visited Agahozo Shalom along with his wife Adele Fleet Bacow.

Race4Rwanda emerged after a group of Tufts undergraduates traveled to Rwanda this summer with Tufts Hillel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to volunteer with the amazing students at the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, an innovative village and high school that provides a home and education for orphans of the Rwandan genocide. Agahozo Shalom provides three meals a day, world-class instruction and family-structured living that the youths previously lacked. Most importantly, the village has provided the students with hope for their future.

Two local charities will also benefit from Race4Rwanda:

– The Medford Family Network of the Medford Public Schools is a family support and parenting education program that is accessible to every child through age six and his/her caregiver(s) who lives or works in Medford. The group holds a wide range of different types of workshops, discussion groups and playgroups at a variety of sites around the city.

– The Welcome Project, based at Somerville’s largest public housing development – the Mystic Housing Development – aims to strengthen civic and community life in the city by diminishing racism and empowering the city’s refugee and immigrant groups. The group creates opportunities for residents of all backgrounds to work together to improve their social, economic and personal well-being.

“Race4Rwanda seeks to raise money to support a number of worthy local groups plus the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda,” Bacow said. “Adele and I had the opportunity to visit Agahozo Shalom this past summer, and we can attest to the extraordinary work that is being done there to provide a safe, loving and supportive environment for the orphans of Rwanda. I hope others will come out on race day to raise money for these worthy organizations.”

The race will start and finish at the outdoor track (Ellis Oval) at Tufts University’s Medford/Somerville campus. Complimentary food and refreshments will be served following the race. Race4Rwanda will be held rain or shine.

Free parking for Race4Rwanda will be available in Tufts’ Lower Campus Road Garage, 30 Lower Campus Road, Somerville. A complimentary shuttle will run between Davis Square (across the street from the Somerville Theatre and the T subway station) and the Tufts campus, beginning shortly after 10 a.m.

Tufts Hillel, the lead sponsor of Race4Rwanda, is joined by a variety of local organizations and companies, as well as various Tufts departments, offices and groups, in providing significant support to help make Race4Rwanda happen.

For more information about Race4Rwanda and for a complete list of sponsors, please visit www.Rwanda5K.com.