NORWICH – “The seeds of hate start small,” is more than just a turn of phrase to Norwich High School Second Language teacher William Guiffre, as he explores and explains to his students the mass genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
The Darfur situation is an ongoing armed conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, mainly between the Janjaweed – a militia group recruited from the tribes of the Abbala Rizeigat – and the non-Baggara people of the region.
The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, is believed to have provided money and assistance and has participated in joint attacks with the group, systematically targeting the Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups in Darfur. The conflict began in July 2003.
Guiffre teaches students about French-speaking regions around the world. When his students started to learn about French-speaking Africa, he said it would have been impossible not to introduce them to the conflict the nation is currently enduring.
The students watched “Hotel Rwanda,” a film about the mass genocide in Rwanda led by Hutu extremists against the Tutsis minority over a decade ago, and from there decided not to turn away from the problems beyond their borders, but to create a project that would bring attention to the fact that millions of people are dying in a nation that needs help.
“We watched the movie and just started talking and bringing up ideas to bring awareness and ways to show how many lives are being lost,” said student Julia Knecht.
Using staples and scrap paper, high school students began making paper chains in September, with each link representing a life that has been lost in the African nation. The hoped for goal by June is 400,000 links – a number that is the current death toll in Darfur. To date the students have made 88,391 links.
Inside his classroom, Guiffre and his students keep a running tally, a personal best tally and a class average. On Wednesday, a new class average was set, with 623 links made in one 80-minute class period. Students can also make chains at home and bring them in.
Outside on the football field, the concession stand is full of paper chains and the classroom is slowly getting bombarded as well.
“By the time we get done, the chains should cover the length of a hall in the high school 237 times,” said Guiffre. He also says he is trying to teach peace. “Peace in Darfur starts with peace in our own hallways.”
Making the chains is not the only way students are showing support. They have also agreed any funds raised for the effort will be sent to the save Darfur coalition, and many of the students have petitioned President Bush and U.N. Chief Ban Ki-moon to help aid the fight for peace.
The students say they want to get the community involved in the chain making process. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on March 14 in Room 1 of the high school, community members are welcome to attend a workshop where students are hoping several hundred more links can be constructed. Community members are asked to bring a stapler, staples and a garbage bag with them. Anyone with questions should call Bill Guiffre at 334-1600 ext. 6062 at the high school. For more information about what can be done locally, visit www.savedarfur.org.