Youth from different primary, secondary and high learning institutions in Musanze district with the Ministry of Youth and ICT on Sunday 14th May 2017, joined the rest of Rwandans to pay tribute to youth killed in the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi.
The young students were remembering children and youth killed during the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, and they were urged to fight genocide ideology and build peace and love among the Rwandan community.
The walk to remember that was held from the genocide commemoration site at Musanze district headquarters to Musanze town stadium was organized by the Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT) and the commemoration was done countrywide.
The governor of Northern Province, Jean Claude Musabyimana urged this young generation to fight against racial segregation and whatever can bring genocide ideology.
“We know that good leadership of this country established initiatives to unite Rwandans and to promote Rwandan values and ‘Kirazira’. Tomorrow is yours, we recommend you to avoid lies and build the bright future of this country,” The Governor Musabyimana advised youth.
According to Benoit Ngabonziza, MYICT Official in charge of youth empowerment and programs coordination, the Ministry chosen Musanze District at the national level as the place identified to have many people with genocide ideology.
“Genocide ideology is spread through different ways like internet, verbal communication and more about denial of genocide; we recommend youth to first know the history of the country. They must know how the genocide was done, what caused it and its consequences; so that they fight against its ideology through all possible ways including social media, where they can be able to give the truth of lies of denial of genocide,” Ngabonziza noted.
Students speak
Fabiola Kamikazi, a student in senior one at Wisdom High School in Musanze District said that children do understand the bad history of genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, and that it is something important to remember it, just to strengthen the ‘Never again’ genocide.
“We are ready to advise any child who can bring anything about denial of the genocide or its ideology because we know the truth of what happened in Rwanda in 1994,” Kamikazi said.
Hozwa Keysie Mbarushimana, also a student in senior one at Wisdom High School said that every child must play a role in fighting genocide ideology.
“We must fight against the genocide ideology because none can wish that the bad history of Rwanda in 1994 can happen again, in such a period of commemoration, we get further knowledge about what happened in the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, and together we learn from that bad history to strive for ‘Never again’ genocide,” Mbarushimana noted.
She encourages other young children to participate in Walk to Remember and learn the truth of genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, so that they become good story tellers of what happened in Rwanda.
The commemoration was ended by the signing of ‘IGIHANGO CY’URUNGANO’ or “HERITAGE Of YOUTH” by youth and top leaders who were at the commemoration ceremony.
This ceremony of signing was to re-affirm that genocide will never happen again in Rwanda.
By Elias Hakizimana
Officials signing the IGIHANGO CY’URUNGANO at the end of the commemoration ceremony (Photo/Courtesy)
Officials from the Ministry of Youth and ICT lay a wreath on a grave at Musanze district genocide memmorial (Photo/Elias H.)
Young students from secondary schools following the speeches about the history of Rwanda and the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi (Photo/Elias H.)
Young students from different primary schools and citizens of Musanza district during the comemmoration ceremony at Musanze stadium (Photo/Elias H.)
