NEW YORK – The United Nations' Academic Council presented a screening of the documentary film "Rising from Ashes" followed by a panel discussion at the UN Headquarters on Tuesday evening, Nov. 12. Former FM basketball player Grace Rutagengwa was one of the featured panelists.
"Rising from Ashes" tells the story of the first Rwandan cycling team and its members' rising to excellence despite having survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The UN screening and panel discussion on Tuesday looked not only at the cycling team but also at the broader story of how sports have helped other Rwandan survivors of the genocide put their lives back together and rise to excellence.
Former FM women's basketball player Grace Rutagengwa is a survivor of that massive tragedy. Sport helped her own remarkable rise from ashes.
Photo: FM Accessibility Coordinator Robin DeVito, Grace Rutagengwa, and FM Director of Athletics Kevin Jones prior to their trip to the UN
The Rwandan genocide of 1994 claimed approximately one million victims. Rwandan native Rutagengwa was three years old when her parents were murdered in that wave of extremist-instigated violence.
Rutagengwa's story is one of amazing determination and perseverance. She saw boys playing basketball and wanted to try the game herself. At that time in Rwanda, basketball was predominantly a boys' game, but she argued her way into some games and then kept playing. In time she was given the nickname of "Garçon," (French for "boy") but that did not hinder her love of the game. In fact, she liked playing with boys because their level of play forced her to become a better player.
Photo: Grace Rutagengwa
In time, Rutagengwa became a member of the Rwandan national basketball team and immigrated to the US. She attended Duanesburg High School for one year, then came to FM and became a Lady Raider.
Rutagengwa credits sport with being an invaluable aid to her personal development. She told this writer that playing sports gave her new focus and helped reduce the negative thoughts with which she had been burdened since the genocide. She said that before she became active in sports, she had no one to teach her life skills, but that through her basketball family she was able to acquire many of the life skills she needed.
Rutagengwa was invited to be a part of a prestigious panel at the UN event. The panelists were T.C. Johnstone, Director-Producer-Editor of "Rising from Ashes"; Greg Kwedar, Producer of "Rising from Ashes"; Jock Boyer, US native, former Tour de France competitor, and coach of the Team Rwanda cycling team; and Grace Rutagengwa, member of Rwanda's national basketball team.
FM staff members Robin DeVito and Kevin Jones accompanied Rutagengwa to the UN event. Upon their return, all three described the evening as a most memorable and inspiring experience.
J.L. Holcomb, website writer
Click here for additional information about this very special event.
Provided by the UN:
Video of the introductory remarks
