Carl Wilkens, the only American to stay in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide, will visit Paly to speak about his experiences in Rwanda and the current events in Sudan on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in the social studies resource center.

Paly social studies and Focus on Success teacher Arlyn Sharpe invited Wilkens to speak about standing up to injustices at home and abroad.

“He [Carl Wilkens] is doing a tour, Pedaling2Peace, across the country,” Paly history teacher Hilary McDaniel said. “Ms. Sharpe contacted him from his Web site.”

McDaniel shows her Contemporary World History students the documentary “Ghosts of Rwanda” every year.

“In the documentary, Carl Wilkens stands out because he was the only American to stay in Rwanda after Westerners were evacuated,” McDaniel said. “He saved more Rwandans than the President of the United States.”

According to the Pedaling2Peace Web site, Wilkens is currently biking and flying across the country to educate different communities about Rwanda, Darfur, and genocide.

After visiting Irvington High School in Fremont on Wednesday morning, Wilkens will stop at Paly, then travel to Ohio to talk to students at Spring Valley Academy on Friday.

Originally, Sharpe scheduled Wilkens’ talk primarily for Paly students taking Contemporary World History, but it is not open to the Palo Alto Unified School District community. The community is invited to hear Wilkens speak from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. in the SSRC. He will also be at Paly during lunch and sixth period.

“Well, besides the extra credit, I think it would be great to have someone with experience in a completely different world share with us, a very sheltered community, what life can be like,” said sophomore Emily Ahn, who plans to attend the event.