Aegis Students
Encyclopedia
Aegis Students, a subsidiary of Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust, founded in 2000, is the leading British NGO which campaigns to prevent genocide worldwide. Based at the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Centre, which opened in 1995, the Aegis Trust coordinates the UK Genocide Prevention All-Party Parliamentary Group , funds the Genocide Prevention Group ...

, is an international student-based genocide prevention movement, committed to educating, campaigning and fundraising to end genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...

 and mass atrocities.

Aegis Students was officially launched in April 2006 at 1 Parliament Street, London and has since worked in universities and schools in the UK, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

 and the USA.

History

Aegis Students is a subsidiary of Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust, founded in 2000, is the leading British NGO which campaigns to prevent genocide worldwide. Based at the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Centre, which opened in 1995, the Aegis Trust coordinates the UK Genocide Prevention All-Party Parliamentary Group , funds the Genocide Prevention Group ...

. The word Aegis means ‘Shield’ or ‘Protection’, reflecting the need to protect vulnerable people against genocide and [crimes against humanity]. Aegis was established in 2000 to campaign against genocide and mass atrocities, and its activities include research, policy, education, commemoration, media work, campaigns and humanitarian support for victims.

Dr. James Smith, Founder and Chief Executive of Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust
Aegis Trust, founded in 2000, is the leading British NGO which campaigns to prevent genocide worldwide. Based at the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Centre, which opened in 1995, the Aegis Trust coordinates the UK Genocide Prevention All-Party Parliamentary Group , funds the Genocide Prevention Group ...

, realised the need for creating a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...

 student movement to educate and mobilise young people on the important issues surrounding genocide and mass atrocities.

The first society was launched at Oxford University in May 2005 and others soon followed in Derby
University of Derby
The University of Derby is a university in the city of Derby, England. The main site is on Kedleston Road, Allestree in the north-west of Derby close to the A38 opposite Markeaton Park...

, Kingston
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....

 and Nottingham Trent
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...

. The movement rapidly grew to a national level and was officially launched as Aegis Students in April 2006 at 1 Parliament Street, London.

From there Aegis Students has grown to an international organisation, with societies in countries such as Rwanda, Canada and the United States.

The work of Aegis Students is officially supported by the National Union of Students in the UK.

Rwanda and Darfur

Aegis Students' work is focused on the genocide in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

 and conflict in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...

.

In 1994, in the central African country of Rwanda, 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus lost their lives at the hands of the Hutu majority in 100 days.

In Darfur, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...

, between 250,000 and 400,000 people have died since 2003, mostly from the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit ethnic groups. Although the mass-murder and widespread destruction of African villages that was seen in Darfur from 2003-2005 has come to an end, approximately 2.7 million people remain displaced, both in and outside Sudan’s borders, too afraid to return to their homes.

Recently, Aegis has broadened the focus of its Darfur work to concentrate on prospects for peace and stability across the whole of Sudan. Recent clashes in South Sudan have caused serious concern that the shaky peace brought about by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement , also known as the Naivasha Agreement, was a set of agreements culminating in January 2005 that were signed between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan...

 (CPA) could collapse. The CPA ended 20 years of civil war between North and South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...

, a conflict in which up to 2 million people died.

Youth Education and Leadership Scheme

Aegis Students' Youth Education and Leadership Scheme is designed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills they need in the fight against genocide and mass atrocities.

Educational Visits

Aegis Students' Education Team visit schools around the UK to explore issues around Prejudice & Persecution, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the history and causes of the genocides in Rwanda and Darfur.

Volunteering Opportunities

Aegis Students provides many volunteering opportunites, encouraging volunteers to engage with their local, national and global community. Aegis Students supports volunteers from all over the world in their volunteering. The organisation also offers UK-based National Volunteering Opportunities:

National campaigns team: Responsible for organising national grass roots campaigns.

National events team: Responsible for organising the Aegis Students’ Annual National Conference and other national grassroots funds and awareness raising events.

Aegis Youth Speakers: Trained in public speaking by the Aegis Students Education Team, these volunteers raise awareness in their own community of Aegis’s work.

Teach English to Darfuris Scheme: Volunteers gain a TESOL qualification and support the Darfuri survivors living in the UK by teaching them English.

Discover Rwanda

Discover Rwanda is a three week trip for young people to Rwanda. The focus of the trip is to learn about the genocide which tore Rwanda apart in 1994. Participants meet survivors and engage in activities to confront the legacy of the genocide.

Fund4Darfur

Fund4Darfur supports victims from Darfur. Money raised for this fund goes towards supporting those on the ground in refugee camps in Darfur's neighbouring country, Chad, to supporting Darfuri survivors in the UK and to campaigning to effect long-term change in the region and in UK policy.

Fund4Rwanda

Fund4Rwanda supports widows and orphan survivors of the 1994 genocide meet basic household needs. It also supports long-term education and training, providing young people with sustainable ways of protecting their futures.

Comments on Aegis Students

"I wish the world was full of Aegis Students" Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow
Mia Farrow is an American actress, singer, humanitarian, and fashion model.Farrow first gained wide acclaim for her role as Allison Mackenzie in the soap opera Peyton Place, and for her subsequent short-lived marriage to Frank Sinatra...



"The Aegis Trust's valuable work in educating and raising awareness about the horrors of genocide can only help to make the world a better and safer place in which to live...May I congratulate you on all your efforts and wish you every success."
Sir Menzies Campbell
Menzies Campbell
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record...



"The only safe stance is constant vigilance and an eternal campaign against this evil. I congratulate you and all involved in this project."
Lord Paddy Ashdown
Paddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....



"Aegis' work is extremely valuable as it keeps Darfur in the spotlight in order to urge the international community to act in a co-ordinated way. I am impressed by the important work being done by student members of the Aegis Societies to raise awareness, and hope that this will be sustained." Margaret Beckett
Margaret Beckett
Margaret Mary Beckett is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Derby South since 1983, rising to become the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith, from 18 July 1992 to 12 May 1994, and briefly serving as Leader of the Party following Smith's death...

 MP, Former UK Foreign Secretary

"The strength of Aegis Students at universities shows how concern can be translated into practical action" David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....



“We are proud to be proactively working with The Aegis Trust, proud to be adding our strength to the cause for an end to the genocide of the people of Darfur...Students are vital in this campaigning work, and it is so great to see you all here today, and as such, the NUS will be helping through the rest of our networks to mobilise students to engage in the work of The Aegis Trust."
Gemma Tumelty
Gemma Tumelty
Gemma Tumelty was the President of the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom until 2008. She was the NUS National Secretary for 2005 to 2006, and a member of its National Executive Committee for two years before that.-Early life:She comes from Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...

, Former NUS
NUS
NUS may refer to:* Nu Skin Enterprises* Neglected and Underutilized Species, or Neglected and Underutilized Crops* National Union of Students * National Union of Students * National Union of Students...

 National President

"In trying to expand our efforts to the international community, the National STAND Coalition would be thrilled to work with you to help get the UK mobilized."
Erin Mazursky, Executive Director, Students Take Action Now for Darfur in U.S.
(STAND)

"It is absolutely critical to maintain the campaign momentum, forcing the issue back on to the policy front burner, and you as a student movement will be critical in making that happen. The Darfurian people are desperately suffering, and relying on you as never before. Maintain your rage, and maintain the campaign!"
Hon Gareth Evans
Gareth Evans (politician)
Gareth John Evans, AO, QC , is a former Australian politician from 1978 to 1999 representing the Australian Labor Party, serving in a number of ministries including Attorney-General and Foreign Minister from 1983 to 1996 in the Hawke and Keating governments. He was president and chief executive...

 AO QC, President, International Crisis Group & Former Australian Foreign Secretary

Aegis Students on Aegis Students

"Starting and running an Aegis Students society in Edinburgh has been a great way to support a cause I really care about. It's also given me the confidence and skills to secure an internship this year with a major national charity.”
Joe Silverman, President 2009/10, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

 Aegis Students Society

“Aegis really wakes you up to the fact that genocide continues to happen, like in Darfur today – it’s not a relic of the past. And I get involved because it’s about time it became a relic of the past, and we all need to do our bit, however small, to make that happen.”
Andrew Scott Taggart, President 2009/10, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

 Aegis Students Society

"Aegis combines a great humanity and sensitivity, a fantastic dynamism, and authoritatively formulated policy to tackle multifaceted problems that no-one else is able to touch. It is a unique and exciting organisation to be a part of as a student."
Jonathan Bower, President 2009/10, SOAS Aegis Students Society

External links

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