Messages of Support and Hope
Messages of Hope and Support are projects founded on the idea that helping helps and begets more helping. Messages of Hope has provided an avenue for survivors of the Rwandan genocide to give positive testimony of personal growth and recovery after the devastation of the genocide, and also a chance to express hope for their own and their nation’s restoration. In Rwanda there are constant reminders of the genocide. Messages of Hope has encouraged survivors to look forward and envision a better future. The project was a collaboration between anti-genocide agencies in Rwanda and an interdisciplinary team from Murdoch University.
The Messages of Hope
Messages of hope by survivors have been shown to hundreds of Australian young people as part of the Messages of Support project run at Murdoch University by Dr Emma Thomas with honours student Cassie Barnes, and at Western Sydney University by Professor Craig McGarty with student Rose Peak as part of both her honours and PhD theses. The messages have been welcomed, and inspired participants in these studies to gain perspective on their own lives and the challenges that they face. Many speak of how watching the videos has changed their lives and that through the messages, survivors have made a significant contribution to humanity. It is often thought that only those rich in material resources can help others, but Messages of Hope shows the potential for survivors of great adversity to impact the world through their courage, compassion, wisdom, and ability to bond with other survivors in determination to recover.
The Messages of Support
Message of Support participants have responded to the hope messages through making videos of support and encouragement to Rwandan survivors. The young people involved in the projects received messages of hope with great appreciation and enthusiasm and have given back to survivors with warmth and understanding, drawing from their own experiences of trauma. Many of the participants also came from backgrounds of mass conflict, losing family members and often whole communities to violence. Conducting the research has been a rewarding and moving experience. Messages of Hope and Support can be seen at https://messagesofhopeandsupport.com.au/
The studies represented here tested the concept that helping helps the helper. The research was intended to answer several questions. Does online helping bring increased well-being to the helper in the same way that face to face helping has been shown empirically to do? Are there preconditions for helping to bring these benefits? Does taking part in Messages of Hope and Support foster a desire to help others in the future, thereby benefitting the community?
Some of the support videos shown here were viewed by survivors in Rwanda. The survivors thanked the supporters for their time, their empathy, and for providing motivation and encouragement.