By Tamsin Hurlbut 

   Imagine you and your family huddled together in a tiny hut, not able to make a single sound. You even breathe quietly, because if you are found, you will be killed. 

   Tharcisse and Chantel Seminega had to do this with their five children. They were Tutsi, an ethnic group targeted in the Rwandan Genecide. The family was not a part of any political movement, just innocent people living their everyday lives. But suddenly, their country was thrown into unrest and they had to hide in a small, dark hut for 75 days. 

   Through the Arnold Liebster Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Seminega talked about their experiences with Tempe Prep’s eighth graders and sophomores. They shared how their faith and love brought them through a difficult time, especially when forgiving their persecutors.

  “It was a privilege to be able to hear from people who survived such an atrocity,” sophomore Taylor Conley said, “It was so brave of them to share their stories. The most inspiring part was when Mr. Semingas said to not go with the crowd, think and question your actions.” 

   Another genocide victim that came to speak to the juniors and seniors is Simone Arnold Liebster, a Holocaust survivor. She provided responses to students’ questions about her experiences during World War II. She was separated from her family and forced to live with a host family because of her identity as a Jehovah’s Witness. She did not know if her parents had survived, and lived in uncertainty for years. She was also starved by her host family. When the French army liberated the region as the end of the war neared, Simone and her family reunited and rebuilt their lives. 

   These speakers remind students of the atrocities millions faced at the hands of corruption and political unrest. Their experiences allow students to gain further insight on significant historical events and reflect on the past.