In April of 1994, the Rwandan government broadcasted a call to arms over national airwaves inciting compatriots to rise up against a mortal enemy—their own countrymen. Hutu civilians took up machetes and went on a 100 day killing spree, wiping out nearly one million Tutsis, and moderate Hutus. The genocide was the culmination of a centuries-old power struggle between the two ethnic groups, which erupted into a cycle of violence during European colonial rule.
In a vastly different part of the world, 8-year-old Jonah Platt was enjoying something that young Rwandans would never know: childhood. Like most of the world, he was unaware of the atrocities being committed in this small African nation. But fifteen years later, the Los Angeles native decided to get personally involved. In April of 2009 he ventured to Rwanda to work at the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village (ASYV).
Jonah Platt teaches music to students of Agahozo Shalom in Rwanda
The word Agahozo means “dry their tears.” ASYV was conceived by New York lawyer Anne Heyman and funded by the nonsectarian efforts of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (a beneficiary agency of the Federation). Modeled after a youth village in Israel called Yemin Orde, Agahozo Shalom serves as a residence, high school, and health resource for up to 500 Rwandan orphans.
“They’re orphans because of the genocide,” explained Jonah. “It’s like a comet came from the sky and wiped out a bunch of people. Literally every person in Rwanda is a survivor, meaning they either escaped death or perpetrated death. You’ve got people living down the street from the man who killed their sisters. It’s insane.”
Jonah witnessed this situation firsthand when an Agahozo Shalom counselor he’d befriended was approached by a neighbor who confessed to killing the counselor’s grandmother and sister. The man then showed the young Rwandan where his family members were buried. In response to the incident, Jonah’s friend confessed, “That man will always be my enemy. But I’m going to live alongside him so that we can have a bright future for our country and for our kids.”
The moment made a lasting impression on the 22-year-old writer/producer/performer. He dedicated one of his letters home to the issue of genocide, drawing comparisons between the Rwandan upheaval and another tragedy of a very personal nature, the Holocaust. After grappling with questions about the nature of humankind, disheartened by the futility and destructiveness of violence, Platt resolved his existential dilemma, finding peace in the words of his Rwandan friend. He concluded his letter by saying, “Anyone who can find hope, even a shred, amidst the obliteration of his country, deserves our admiration and respect. It is much easier to despair than to hope; easier to transgress than to forgive; easier to be rude and selfish than to be benevolent. When I think of it this way, it seems to me that Rwandans may be the strongest people on the planet.”
Like many volunteering opportunities, Jonah Platt’s experience in Rwanda was a mutual exchange of gifts. Jonah flattened ground, cleared grass, and dug holes for around 1,500 coffee trees. He leveled land for a car turnaround near the school, and oversaw a team of masons who built two benches and a flagpole. He collected water for the village, coached basketball, taught music, and acted as a mentor and friend to students. In return, these amazing young people taught him the true meaning of generosity and selflessness, and the value of genuine kindness and affection. In Jonah’s estimation, the youth of Agahozo Shalom aren’t “jaded or sarcastic,” unlike their American counterparts who interestingly enough, have been protected from the harsh realities of the world. Upon leaving ASYV, a 17-year-old boy reached out to Jonah and said, “I’ll remember you forever in my heart. I love you.” Volunteering at Agahozo Shalom is an experience Jonah said would “live with [him] forever.”
Jonah’s parents are long-time Federation supporters Marc and Julie Platt. Julie is currently the Sylvia Weisz Women’s Campaign Chair.
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The video below was produced around the time Jonah volunteered at Agahozo-Shalom. It gives a broader look at the camp and introduces some of the more permanent players.
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jonah, you are inspiring.