Members of Unity Club Intwararumuri on Wednesday, April 23, joined elderly Genocide survivors known as Intwaza, for the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, held at Impinganzima home in Huye District.

Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka, the Minister of Public Service and Labour, delivered a message to Intwaza on behalf of First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Chairperson and founder of Unity Club, during the commemoration event.

Unity Club has officially launched its annual commemoration event in Huye District, bringing together members of the organization and Intwaza. These survivors, many of whom lost their entire families during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, now live in special care homes known as Impinganzima.

This heartfelt event provides an opportunity to honor the memory of their loved ones and show solidarity with those who endured unimaginable loss. From Huye, the commemoration activities will continue across other Impinganzima homes located in Bugesera, Nyanza, and Rusizi districts.

Currently, the Huye Impinganzima home is home 107 Intwaza — 99 women and 8 men — all of whom are being supported with care, dignity, and community.

Amb Nkulikiyinka said: "To our parents who survived, you found yourselves alone, without families. Even though it wasn't easy, you carried the burden with dignity, and you continued to live in the spirit of unity and resilience. You are the source of hope and everlasting light."

She commended the survivors for upholding values that continue to shape the nation.

"Today, you are known for your integrity and for nurturing hope for the future, which the younger generation continues to draw from. The values that define you are countless, and we are deeply grateful that you have taken the initiative to pass them on, not only to the youth but also to your neighbours and communities."

She reassured the survivors that the government remains committed to supporting them with care, respect, and love, emphasising they are not alone and will never be left behind.

Nkulikiyinka emphasised that remembering is a cornerstone of Rwanda's healing and rebuilding process.

"Remembering is the right path to restoring the dignity of our loved ones who were killed. But it is also a chance for us, as Rwandans, to rebuild both emotionally and in how we relate to one another."

Remembering is the foundation of Rwandans' unity and resilience, she added.

She noted President Paul Kagame's remarks during commencement the commemoration period of the 1994 Genocide against the Tusti, on April 7 warning against international narratives that distort Rwanda's history, stressing the need to remain vigilant and defend the country's peace and fight against those who promote division and Genocide ideology.

Marie-Alice Kayumba Uwera, the Executive Director in Charge of National Unity and Community Resilience at the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) acknowledged the elders for their profound courage in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"The Genocide affected you in a unique way, you were left with no family, nowhere to go, your homes were destroyed, and your properties were stolen. Yet you carried on, determined to live again."

She emphasised that as these survivors grow older, their need for specialised support becomes more urgent.

"The government, through its program to support vulnerable survivors, will continue to stand by them," she added.

Anasthasie Karwera, one of the elderly survivors, was born in 1951 and tragically lost her entire family, her husband and four children during the Genocide.

Karwera thanked President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame for their support over the years. She also thanked Avega Agahozo, the association of genocide widows, for helping survivors like her overcome loneliness and find community again.

Karwera urged the younger generation to protect Rwanda's unity and to actively combat genocide denial and distortion.

Immaculée Kayitesi, President of Avega Agahozo, also thanked the elder survivors for their courage and resilience.

She also thanked the RPF-Inkotanyi, led by President Paul Kagame, for putting an end to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

She said, "It is thanks to them that we, along with these elders, are able to sit here today. Without their intervention, it would have been impossible. The sacrifice they showed for this country and its people gave us a nation where we can now enjoy rights, security, and freedom."