The pledge by Cabinet Ministers to each contribute at least USD 200 towards the ‘One Dollar Campaign,’ takes us another step closer to realizing the ‘Never Again’ vow.

It is a bold step by the politicians full of meaning as it shows that a political will exists to deal with the plight of those orphaned by the Genocide. It is also a challenge for each one of us to play a part.

The big question on most people’s minds after the just concluded Genocide Commemoration week was what next?Emotions have been high, tears have been shed, stories long buried have been unearthed and retold.

Souls and consciences have been searched, with fresh commitments for healing and reconciliation also being made. We have felt the pain and anguish of the Genocide.

Over the past week the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was replayed in the most emotionally painful way anyone can ever imagine or even live with. The brutal reality of it all brought right to our doorsteps.

What story could have touched the hearts of many than that of the 15 year old girl, born at the height of the Genocide, in her own testimony between Gate A and Gate B. That is her memory of her birth.

Calling out to each of us, to search our hearts and souls and ask, what it is we can do to give this child and hundreds more a better future? How can we make up for humanity’s failure?

It is in this vein that the Rwandan Diaspora has played a rather commendable role in this year’s commemorations. While for many of us it has been almost all about doom and gloom, they have been building a foundation of hope, through the ‘One Dollar Campaign’.

A foundation that has awakened each of us to the reality of the challenges ahead that need tackling especially, if the Never Again vow is to have meaning for the widows and orphans created by the Genocide.

The ‘One Dollar Campaign’ and similar efforts are symbols of hope and inspiration. Each one of the people, considered as vulnerable out of the mere historic mishap of the Genocide, should not be alone.

These are people whose whole livelihoods were destroyed not by a natural disaster, but uncaring, hard-hearted human beings.

It is in this vein that the real challenge, not just for Rwandans but all who have shed a tear or two of the Genocide memory over the past days, to stand up and be counted.

Ends