Harwood students to share Rwanda experience at Zenbarn

May 10, 2024  |  By Claire Pomer  |  Correspondent 

Harwood students on the recent travel study trip to Rwanda. Left to right: Lucy Badger, Ayla Cattanach, Noa Ibson, Eleanor Hume, Jasper Mayone, Taurin Bethel (hidden in background), Callum MacCurtain, Keegan McGrath, Katie Long, Will Burks, and Ingora, a Rwandan filmmaker. Photo by Magge Stone

Harwood students who traveled to Rwanda over winter break have created video projects about their trip, featuring interviews with Rwandan locals and students which they will present at a free event at Zenbarn in Waterbury on May 13.

The trip from Feb. 17 to March 8, is an annual tradition. Ten students and four faculty members traveled with two media makers. It involved a homestay portion, where students stayed with Rwandan families, and visited farms, community developments, and the Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music.

“The students went into the trip knowing that they would have to create these projects,” said teacher Jonah Ibson, who went on the trip. The projects are a tradition that comes with the experience.

Students sat down with locals and interviewed them for their projects, which could be completed individually or in a group. Many projects focus on students from the music school. “They could have gotten footage elsewhere,” Ibson explained, “but they really honed in on this trip to the music school.” Harwood junior Eleanor Hume and sophomore Noa Ibson interviewed two Rwandan students, Venessa and Camille. “They talked about how music is not only part of their culture but a part of their life and how it affects them every day,” Hume said. “Camille explains how music ‘heals the soul’ and how Rwandan people use music to love, heal, and celebrate.” 

Students filmed and edited their projects themselves. “We worked really hard on this,” Hume and Ibson explained. “Creating this was an amazing opportunity and gave us the chance to see how music is different in different cultures and how people experience it differently.”

The projects by students and filmmaker Jesse Kreitzer will be presented at Zenbarn on Monday, May 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and public is invited to attend. Attendees can purchase food and drinks.

Claire Pomer is a sophomore at Harwood Union High School.