Stoneleigh-Burnham Junior Produces Documentary on Rwanda

"Wipe a Tear in Rwanda" Shows Positive Impact of Student Fundraising Project

11/12/2007

Stoneleigh-Burnham School junior Ornella Umubyeyi spent her summer producing her first documentary film, titled Wipe a Tear in Rwanda.

In the spring of last year Ms. Umubyeyi, who hails from Rwanda, spoke at an event at neighboring Northfield Mount Hermon School about her experience of having lived through the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Her talk inspired a group of students to develop the Wipe a Tear fundraising project.

The effort raised more than $25,000 (raised by NMH and SBS) for CHABHA, an organization created to aid families affected by HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. CHABHA raises awareness in the US of the plight of children in sub-Saharan Africa affected by HIV/AIDS and supports community-based projects for these children in Namibia, Rwanda and South Africa.

Ms. Umubyeyi's motivation for the film Wipe a Tear in Rwanda was to better understand how funds raised would be put to use back home. She set out to contact the President of CHABHA and requested an interview to take place over the summer while she was home visiting. Wipe a Tear in Rwanda documents that interview and highlights the various projects that CHABHA sponsors for young people in Rwanda.

Stoneleigh-Burnham School held a screening of Wipe a Tear in Rwanda on Thursday, October 11, 2007. The School's Media Room was filled to capacity with 65 students from Stoneleigh-Burnham and Northfield Mount Hermon Schools, all in proud support of Ornella. The film was followed by a question and answer session during which Ms. Umubyeyi was asked if she plans to return to Rwanda after college. Her response - a firm yes.

As part of Stoneleigh-Burnham's Community Service Club, Ms. Umubyeyi and other Stoneleigh-Burnham students are making plans to find ways to continue to support CHABHA and other organizations that help children in need from around the world.

To learn more about the school, visit: www.sbschool.org

Contact: Holly Mott, Communications Director, (413) 774-2711 ext 277