Rwandan youth have been called on to work together to ensure harmonious co-existence and social cohesion in the country.

The call was made by various officials during the closure of a workshop on peace building among the youth from various sectors in Musanze District.

Organised by Rwanda Peace Education Programme (RPEP), the workshop attracted youths and teachers from various schools, and local leaders.

The Rwanda Peace Education Programme was launched two years ago and with the mission of using lessons from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to fight Genocide denial and to promote peace among the youth.

Participants were taken through the history of Rwanda, and how Rwandans were later divided along ethnic lines which culminated into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The lessons were offered through theory and arts exhibition.

Jean Nepo Ndahimana, the programme coordinator at Rwanda Peace Education Programme, said the exhibition helped participants to understand how to build sustainable peace.

"Rwandans need to learn about peace and overcome the past which promoted genocide ideology and led to the Genocide,” said Ndahimana.

"It is good for civil society, in partnership with the government, to teach the youth critical thinking to become responsible citizens. Looking at our history, you realise that Rwandans were misled by the poor leadership at the time to commit the Genocide,” he added.

The programme, which started two years ago, has bore fruits as beneficiaries have shown a positive change, according to Ndahimana.

"There are many changes and we are hopeful that participants learn lessons. People who attend these workshops end up contributing to sustainable peace, some say they have not yet understood how the Genocide was planned while teachers also say they skipped Genocide lessons because they were not yet prepared to teach the topic,” he said.

At least over 30,000 people, mostly youths from ten districts, have been reached since the programme launch.

The plan is to reach 20 districts. Over 2,500 students from Musanze District participated in the past three weeks.

Participants speak

Participants who attended the latest workshop committed to building a society free of genocide ideology to ensure sustainable peace.

"I have understood my role as a citizen to prevent a reoccurrence of the Genocide,” said Triphine Igabineza, 18, a student at GS Saint Vincent in Musanze.

"We have been taught that sustainable peace is the foundation of social cohesion and sustainable development. I am committed to be a peace builder and work together with other youths to ensure peace in the country and all Rwandans live in harmony.”

The programme is a joint initiative between Aegis Trust, the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace and Dialogue (IRDP), USC Shoah Foundation and is funded by the Swedish Embassy.

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