7 Jan 2014 – Today marked the beginning of a series of events leading up to the commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. Aegis Trust, responsible for the management of the Kigali Genocide Memorial together with international partners works alongside CNLG to coordinate some of the commemoration events as part of the efforts to remember, educate and prevent genocide.
Survivors Marcel Mutsindashyaka who was rescued by his neighbor and Theodette Abayisenga (Nyange School Survivor) gave strong testimonies. Theodette emphasized the importance of education: “When I look back to what happened, how we showed solidarity to those who were threatened, I link it to the fact that, in our school, we were taught brotherhood and the sense of community.
Marcel was rescued when he was 5 so, as he says, the people he knows from his family, he knows them through pictures. He told his inspiring story of resilience; how does one rebuild his life after such a violence at an early age. He is now a successful entrepreneur and wishes to encourage survivors, widows of the genocide “we were not exterminated; we have strength to do many things”.
Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo and Minister of Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali seized this opportunity to remind the audience that Kwibuka/Remembering was an important part of the fight against genocide “Rwandans should refuse denial of genocide and look for the truth about what happened.”
Between January 7th to April 7th the Kwibuka Flame (flame of remembrance) will travel to each of the 30 districts in Rwanda where the local community will gather to mark its arrival. During this period community conversations will take place as well as youth activities that will see young people from Rwanda and across the globe sharing their messages for the future around the Kwibuka theme of Remember, Unite, Renew.
