In an online interview IGIHE had with Sondra Myers, a rousing author and frequent lecturer on the arts, humanities and civil society, she introduced us to her journey as a writer and how Rwanda’s success story after the genocide sharpened even more of her will to learn about Rwanda. Sondra tackled various subjects and brought her personal outlook to the role of the Rwandan education system in shaping interdependence, civic responsibility and prosperity.
As a connoisseur and author of different books with democracy as main theme, Sondra also shared with us evocative insights as to how she perceives President Paul Kagame’s decision to stand for a third term as well as her key takeaways after her expeditions and her learning about Rwanda.
{{IGIHE: What inspired you to write your latest book on Rwanda: “The New Rwanda: Success and challenges on the ground”?}}
{{Sondra Myers:}} I wrote the second book to bring to people’s attention–Rwandans, Americans and anyone else interested, that there were many examples of success in Rwanda; in education, healthcare and numerous other areas, even as there were challenges to be addressed. Rwanda was and is a work in progress–that is in the nature of democracy–it is never a completed task. Rwandans are encouraging home-grown solutions–and they have the traditions that help them to move forward–whereas in many societies, some traditions hold people back. Still they need the encouragement, information and consultation with outsiders to keep in sync with the modern world.
{{IGIHE: Did you learn anything from writing your book? If so what was it? }}
{{Sondra Myers: }} My learning about Rwanda inspired me to write the first book and then the second; I was especially impressed with the energy, creativity and self-confidence of the young people I met; I was dazzled by the success of the Gacaca courts, which I consider to be the most proactive and effective example of truth and reconciliation in the world. The fact that Rwanda does not tolerate corruption is a very big plus, along with its modern use of its enlightened traditions. I call corruption a “weapon of mass destruction.” It is the enemy of progress.
I see the books as useful and encouraging for Rwandans and important for the outside world. The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made the books available in Rwandan embassies world-wide.
{{IGIHE: What is the role of education in democratization process?}}
{{Sondra Myers:}} I believe that the most important–the essential element in democracy is citizens who consider themselves responsible for the public good. You can have democracy without a constitution but you cannot have it without informed and engaged citizens. It takes a while for the culture of citizenship to develop–and education can be a great help in forging a free and open society.
{{IGIHE: Do you recall how your interest in writing about Rwanda originated? }}
{{Sondra Myers:}} I met with my old friend Mike Fairbanks when he was receiving an honorary degree at the University of Scranton. Not having seen each other in a long time, we each told the other what we were doing. He, in brief, was doing economic development, with a focus on entrepreneurship in a number of African countries.
I was doing civic development–helping to develop a culture of citizenship in places where people had not had the opportunity for it, having been subjects at best and even victims of their leaders. My focus had been on what higher education can do to prepare people for democratic citizenship. Accordingly, I would organize and moderate round table discussions with educators on the subject. By the time Mike and I were both ready to do this, he said “It’s got to be Rwanda. Rwanda will be the flagship country of Africa in time!”
One of the recommendations that came out of that meeting, held in April, 2007, was that there needed to be more public conversation about the subject. That prompted me to do the first Rwanda handbook, The New Rwanda: Prosperity and the Public Good.” My first two handbooks–Democracy is a Discussion (One and Two), had been successful in fostering public discussion and so I modelled the first book after them, but made it country-specific.
{{IGIHE: what are your views about Rwanda`s democracy and the latest referendum whereby the people of Rwanda allowed President Paul Kagame to run for a third term?}}
{{Sondra Myers:}} Democracy is a perpetual work in progress–and Rwanda has gone far in a short time in setting itself in the direction of democracy. It takes people who have been subjects for a long time to believe that they have the right to be responsible for the public good–so educating them to understand that is important. Young people, of course, are very important to the project of building a democracy.
I have met a number of young people in Kigali who have the will and the skills to be good citizens. While there is a great stress on building entrepreneurship, I see citizenship as a partner to entrepreneurship. We need in citizens the same kind of excitement and determination that entrepreneurs have in building their own fortunes and the economic strength of the society to use in building a strong civil society. Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s greatest and most famous presidents, spoke of “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” That is the goal of all people–that is where true freedom lies–and so we are all on that path.
{{IGIHE: What is your current or future project when it comes to Rwanda?}}
{{Sondra Myers:}} I am considering putting my two books in one volume, with a new introduction and a third “book,” looking at the development of the country and its institutions and what it sees as its greatest needs, This third part would be more like an executive summary of highlights over the past couple of years and even new or newly discovered challenges. I might call it The New Rwanda Reader. I am still in the “testing the waters” stage on this new volume–nothing is set in stone.
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