It is a dismal set of circumstances, one we have heard more than once over the past 20 years.

Between April and June of 1994, approximately 800,000 people were killed in the Rwanda genocide, in just 100 days.

But a group of Island families doesn’t want people to forget.

Most of the dead were Tutsis, and most of those who did the killing were Hutus.

The scale of the slaughter was depicted in the movie, “Hotel Rwanda,” the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during the struggle against the Hutu militia.

The genocide was sparked by the death of the Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, when his plane was shot down on April 6, 1994.

Father Jean Baptiste Ganza, a Tutsi, lost his mother and much of his family in the genocide, in Gisenyi, Rwanda. Ganza is now a Jesuit Priest and a student at Seattle University, where he has made a name for himself.

According to the University’s magazine, Father Ganza is recognized around campus as not only the young Jesuit, but he’s also a soon-to-be-alumnus when he graduates with an MBA early next year. He lives the mission of Seattle University through his dedication to the people of Rwanda and commitment to social justice.

From Dec. 14, 2011, until Jan. 3, 2012, nine Mercer Island students from four families will leave on an adventure of a lifetime, to help build a classroom at St. Ignatius School, in the now healing Rwanda. Islander Holly Dillon met Ganza through a friend who had made a similar trip and decided she wanted her family to go, and the others joined in. Caroline Dillon, 16, said her mom was inspired by her friend’s videos. Spencer Dillon, 17, his sister Caroline, Zac Stickney, 17, his brother Mitch Stickney, 15, Danno Mayer, 15, and his sister Callie Mayer, 17, Max Dammeier, 17, Bennett Dammeier, 15, and their little brother Liam Dammeier, a fifth-grader at Island Park Elementary, along with all four sets of parents, will make the journey.

The families are paying their own way, but the kids are trying to raise $15,000 for the school.

“It’s the kids that want to raise the money,” said Leslie Dammeier.

This is not a mission organized by any of the local churches, just something these families are compelled to do.

“There’s not a lot of awareness of Rwanda since the genocide,” said Callie Mayer.

Spencer Dillon said America’s image of Rwanda is of the genocide, but in reality, Father Ganza has told them it’s a very safe country, with no current conflict.

“They’re focused on forgiveness,” said Zac Stickney, a senior at Mercer Island High School, who will also use this trip as his culminating project. Zac is the leader of the fundraising effort.

He said Father Ganza is very nice and calm, even after all he has been through.

“He’s been the one preaching to us to forgive,” said Danno Mayer. “They’re integrating Hutus and Tutsis of all backgrounds into the school.”

All nine youths have been out of the country before, but never to Africa. Danno Mayer is a little concerned about mosquitoes, and they all said they’ve had to endure many, many shots, and have to take typhoid and malaria pills, some with side effects.

Zac Stickney and Spencer Dillon went on a mission with the Presbyterian church, to Mexico last year, to build houses. Caroline Dillon and Danno Mayer will make the same trip to Mexico over spring break.

While in Rwanda the group is staying in what was Hotel Rwanda, now called Hotel des Mille Collines.

Their fundraising efforts for Rwanda so far have been achieved through knocking on doors, and sitting outside the Island QFCs telling citizens about their cause. So far, they have raised $1,400.

Sunday, Nov. 20, the four families will hold a big garage sale to raise money for St. Ignatius at the Dillon home, 7002 N. Mercer Way, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some of the items for sale include a couch, sporting equipment, X-box and video games, clothing, books and other miscellaneous items.

Or, if you would like to make a cash donation, call Zac Stickney at (206) 914-5150.