The First Lady Jeannette Kagame on Friday told youth that they have a task of writing Rwanda’s new history, as the country looks to build back from the dark past, 27 years down the road.
She made these remarks during a youth forum, where over 300 young Rwandans convened at the Intare Conference Arena.
Held under the theme of "The Promise of a Generation”, the meeting was organized by the Ministry of Youth and culture and Imbuto Foundation as a way to consolidate values of unity and self-reliance among young folks.
The forum also served as a platform for young Rwandans to commemorate Genocide against the Tutsi as a youth, to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and its effects while seeking the capacity to write a new history through fighting those who continue to deny and belittle Rwanda’s dark past.
In her opening remarks, the first lady reminded Rwandans, especially the youth that each and every individual has a critical role to play in order to bring about change that leads to a reflection of the true history of Rwanda in the continued fight against Genocide deniers.
"Today, you have examples of young people who despise and deny the Genocide against the Tutsi,” she said, "But what lesson do you learn from that as the post-genocide generation?”
In addition, she pointed out, "….What benefits have we reaped from the seeds of disunity? It is only obvious that Genocide perpetrators were bothered with the Rwandan values.”
Hence, the first lady said that being Rwandan, and believing in our values is the unique bond Rwandans share, citing that it can only be strengthened by the way the post generation is nurtured.
She decried that when you look at the time when colonists came to Rwanda, which is when our values were compromised, a number of young people were involved in the 1959, 60, 61, 62 and 63 massacres respectively.
"The same people were also involved in the decimation of Tutsis in 1973. If you come to think about it, between 1994 and 1990, the same group played a key role in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Based on this, "You have a task to rebuild the country’s history and dignity. That chain of deniers should be replaced by unity and the zeal to reconcile while fostering Rwandan values.”
According to Dr. Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Prevention of Genocide, young people should curb the practice of turning a blind eye while there are those who are ruining their country.
"We have little diligence, when people are in a good country, they forget that there is an enemy that can destroy it,"
Consequently, Edouard Bamporiki, Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, called on the youth to strive and understand the country’s history, a tool that will enable them to face deniers.
"Being young is an investment when used properly, and you know what you get from adults because they won’t continue to exist. Today, you have the privilege of some adults who understand what our country passed through, let us not take this for granted.”
Youth speak out
"Youth as the cornerstone of the nation, we should unite and fight deniers who want to distort our history,” said Alphonse Gatera, one of the participants at the meeting.
"The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi left a lesson for us never to comprise with the promise we have for our country. Let us embrace our this as we remember and unite,” he said.
Similarly, Billy Nyirimihigo said, "Genocide deniers work very hard to distort history and write it to their advantage. That is why I am committed to fighting them on as many fronts as I can.”
He added, "I encourage all Rwandan youths to do the same.
We must ensure that what happened in our country never reproduces itself, and that will be achieved by continually sharing our stories, learning from our forefathers and teaching the upcoming generation about the Genocide against the Tutsi. This is my pledge.”