Please blog a line or 2, let me know if this way of unpacking stuff from the presentation today works. (ok I called you Gateways Highway in the video:) it was late:)
Sorry I did not get any decent pics, if you have a couple, I would be happy to post them on this blog! email me:carl.wilkens@yahoo.com
Carl,
First off, I want to thank you for taking your time to coming to our school and speaking to us. It was a very informative speech, and it really made me think more about what is going on the world around me. You didn’t leave out the details like some people would, just because they would still consider us kids. We’re still young, yes, but it’s about that time where a lot of people my age begin seeing the world for what it is.
You coming to our school helps with that a lot. I bet it will motivate plenty of people to act for something they think would be kind. It’s helped me reflect on what kinds of things I could do for other people.
Hi Carl,
Thank you for coming to see our school on Thursday. It really helped me understand what the movie was about and i was wondering what I could do to help people in Darfur. Ummm I was wondering if you could give me some ideas of what to do. You can e-mail me at rachelroxmysox93@yahoo.com for any ideas… I’m open for any suggestions…. Thanks again for coming you presentation was great….. bye
Rachel Williams (student at Gateways High School)
I really liked your presentation. I did know that it was going to be so insightful. I think that when you called DC and actually talked to Travis that it made it real, it felt like we all might be able to do something to help. It showed me that there are people out there who are involved, who want to help, and who believe that even a bunch of high schoolers in Oregon can help these unfortunate victims of genocide in Africa, and it was really inspirational.
Thank you for coming here and sharing your story, I know I really appreciated it.
Hey Carl,
My name is Savanna and i am a student at Gateways high school. I am replying to tell you that this whole week learning about the Genoside. It reallt touches me ro llearn about all of this and to have you come to our school and speak means alot to me. Not very many people know this but when i get older and finish college i would like to go to different places and adopt children and bring them back here to Oregon and raise them as my own childern. I have had that dream for years. Even though i never asked you any questions yestorday it really made me want to be able to adopt childern as soon as i can. For you to answer some ones question yesorday about adopting made me open my eyes and relize how hard it is going to be to get people out of proverty. I really thank you so much for taking the 90 minutes out of your day to come and talk to us. I really would love to travel to Darfur one day andf be able to go there and give some time to pick up grabage,volunteer my time,to help people in need, and so so much more.
I really am glad that you are willing to share your story and what you have been threw with all of us. I really hope for you to come back next year or before. Thanks again for sharing your story with us all. I enjoyed it
God Bless,
Savanna Wood
11/20/09
Gateways High School
Dear Carl,
I have been thinking of your presentation, and i’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to say, I guess i’m just in shock with it all still.
Nikki S
i liked your speech it was like a wake up call. It was differnt than the movie hotel rwanda witch is good you let us know what actually happened its like you gave us hope.
Sadly i wasn’t here for your speech. I did watch the movie though and i loved it. It touched me in many ways. I wish i could help the people that have gone through this pain the people then and the people now. It makes me think everyday before i do anything what are the other kids going through…? Do they get a meal every night.? How are my children going to be treated how is the community going to be in 2 years. I have had many painful thing’s happen in my life but i have never seen something as trouble as that. I wanted to cry and show my emotions when i hear something that is racial or against other peoples beliefs. Iv always wanted to lear about slavery and i did but this was way more worst than slavery. The beatings and the hate torrid’s the same race. I wish i could have experienced what you have not for the memories or the hurt or pain but for the strength to help people just like me just different colored. Life’s curl and i wish i could change it. Thank you.
Hey Carl,
I thought it was really devastating to hear about genocide. I don’t see the point in killing off people because they thought they were different or traitors. It was pretty hard to hear about the genocide during your speech but it wasn’t as hard as watching the movie. I can only imagine what happened with Dual and the people who were at Rwanda when I was listening. I hope that someday genocide will stop but until then, we need to take the small steps to save people.
Kaitlynn
Before we watched Hotel Rwanda I had no idea about the genocide going on. I’m just so overwhelmed about all the horrible things that happened I just don’t know what to think about it right now.
Thanks,
Jake Alverson
your speech opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on how i thought about the whole genocide situation… id love to get involved with a charity or maybe even start my own..
sense your speech ive been admired by a huge spirit to stand up an make a little difference its better then doing nothing.
ive even got my little nine year old bother cerious an researching different things about the genocide
i think its really neat on what you do, having you come out an talking to me brought out the type of person i am… it made a huge difference to me an thank your whole family…
thank you,
kimberly clifton
I’m so glad that you came yesterday, after watching video; and then talking to you I was surprised on how well everything was healing after the Genocide. Because that must have been very traumatizing to go through a frenzy like that; And that, we should know that there is a lot of hope for stopping the Genocide Darfur; Because no one should go through tragic event such as this. Have a safe biking trip, from us to you.
Gateway High School.
I want to thank you for coming and sharing your past. I know at times it might be hard to remember and talk about your past in Rwanda to student and adults. I tend to dose off at long speeches, but for some reason you kept me interested. At times i felt like crying because when you were talking i just pictured kids my ages or friends. Another movie that i recommend is “invisible children” i cried alot, i think it might effect you as it did me, because your heart is clear and means well. I’m glad knowing that there is a person who cares for human kind. It’s crazy to think that its going on at this moment, and some people tend to just flick it off there shoulder, like it’s not even happening. My Mother always had told me ” To half a Big Dream, you got to take Big Steps.” People tend to think that one person wont be able change or make a difference. Yesterday when we made that call, just to give them our opinion and that we should be done, we made a difference.{one call, about 170 students big step, BIG DREAM} I hope one day we meet again.
Oh by the way by chance we can see if our school{Gateways High School} can start a found-raiser for some children/ orphans at Rwanda…….
Love&Loyalty&Respecet- Sandie Ruiz-Iglesias
Yo its me Kyle Eastman again we finally found your blog and i look forward to seeing you again and like i really enjoyed your presentation.
i would just like to say that i didnt really get to see the movie of hotel rowanda because i missed school but from what i heard from you speaking it made me interested on what i could do to help. im only one person but i think that the presentation opened up alot of peoples hearts and minds, making them realize that they got i good compared to some other people. i want to give thanks to you and your wife please tell me more on what i could do to help. i would like to maybe adopt a child and send money if you could help me with that?
Destiney McAlexander
THINGS WE CAN DO!
Wow Gateways! thanks for all the responses! Thanks for your kindness! Great Responses! I can see a lot of processing is going on, all the way from starting with small things to starting your own non-profit and fundraisers! I look forward to hearing about continuing developments coming out of Gateways! Even got your 9 year old brother doing genocide research…. Thanks for you personal care about us on our bike trip and your well wishes. I will thank our whole family as one of you mentioned.
Several of you asked what could be done, Let me just give you a starter list:
1.Inform yourselves – read The Translator by Daoud Hari and other books on Darfur, research on the internet, watch films like Darfur Now, and 3 Points, and the Devil Came On Horseback
2.Gather people together to brainstorm on what you can do. Plan to meet once or twice a month. Form a club. Check out Standnow.org
3.Get the world out to others though things like Facebook and Myspace and any other internet tool, put links on your pages to Darfur stuff
4.Call 1-800-genocide. Pick a day each week when you and your friends will call and get acquainted with the different people in the offices of your senators and representatives, the LA’s (Legislative Assistants) in charge of foreign affairs.
5.Pick a day each week to wear a darfur t-shirt. Design your own, have a contest. Anytime you might get tired of wearing a darfur t-shirt think about how glad the people of Darfur are not to be forgotten! And what an honor it is for us to help be a voice for them where they can’t speak! (We never want it to be a responsibility, rather we have the ability to respond!)
6.Raise money for the children in the camps. I can help you contact the people who can see that the money you raise buys the supplies they need!
7.Join in with others around America on December 1-7. in getting thousands to pledge to protect Darfur. Read more at http://www.ipledge2protect.org/
8.Get acquainted with someone new at school. Someone you might not normally hang out with. Pick a day each week that you will be sure and meet someone new or talk with someone you have not talked with in a long time.
Remember we can make a difference at home and abroad at the same time!
THIS IS ONLY A STARTER LIST
PLEASE WRITE IN WITH MORE IDEAS!