Eight projects from Rwandan higher learning institutions have been recognized for their contributions to national unity, reconciliation, and national resilience through the Ndi Umunyarwanda programme.

Their projects, developed over the course of one year, were rewarded by Unity Club Intwararumuri during a ceremony held in Kigali on Friday, June 20, marking the official closing of the programme’s fourth phase.

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Ndi Umunyarwanda programme, which launched in educational institutions in 2019 following the 11th Unity Club Intwararumuri Forum in 2018, aims to foster national unity by encouraging Rwandans, especially the youth, to confront their shared history and promote a collective identity. Activities under the programme include open discussions, community engagement, empowerment programs, competitions, and outreach events.

This year’s fourth phase included 41 participating institutions. Out of 29 projects initially submitted, 15 entered the competition, with 10 shortlisted. Eight projects were awarded for their significant impact both within their school settings and in surrounding communities.

The Legacy of Rwanda, an innovative virtual reality (VR) museum designed to educate users about Rwanda’s history, especially the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, emerged the first project to be awarded. Created by Frank Shyaka and his team from the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology, the project earned a Unity Club certificate and a prize of Rwf1.2 million.

"We are excited to be recognized today, and it is truly an encouragement," Shyaka told The New Times.

"We are going to improve the website even better. We look forward to maintaining our history technologically and making it more accessible to the young and old.”

The VR platform is structured into several interactive rooms: the pre-colonial era highlighting the monarchy, the traditional lifestyle and tools of Rwandans, the colonial and post-colonial periods illustrating how colonialists dismantled indigenous governance systems and sowed divisions, and the liberation struggle and in the Genocide against the Tutsi. The final sections explore Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and present-day governance.

Shyaka noted that the platform has already seen considerable traffic from across various age groups. In addition to the digital museum, the team offers historical games and child-friendly educational materials.

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The second prize, worth Rwf1 million went to Eliane Niyonkuru of the Institute of Applied Sciences INES-Ruhengeri for her project called Kwimakaza Ubumwe n’Ubudaheranwa. Niyonkuru&039;s initiative combined school outreach, community education, poetry and music competitions, public sporting events, and community service, all aimed at strengthening knowledge of Rwanda’s history and promoting social cohesion.

"Playing a role in emphasizing Ndumunyarwanda should not be just about the responsibilities of ministries and officials, or the clubs,” said Niyonkuru. "Everyone has the responsibility to share knowledge about the history and help the young generation understand their country's past and draw lessons from it to move forward hopefully.”

She advocated more public lectures in schools, encouraging extended history sessions like those conducted by the University of Rwanda every Wednesday, which focus on patriotism, citizenship, and student development.

The third project earned Rwf700,000, while the remaining five teams tied for the fourth place, with each receiving Rwf500,000 and a certificate of recognition.

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Julienne Uwacu, the Executive Secretary of Unity Club Intwararumuri, applauded the participants, noting the tangible societal impacts of their projects.

"It was not easy for the judges to select the top winners because of the significance of all the projects,” she said.

Uwacu called on educational institutions and relevant bodies to sustain their support for these initiatives, highlighting their importance in building a cohesive and forward-looking Rwanda.

"We recognize your roles in supporting these youth initiatives through various activities promoting unity and resilience," Uwacu said. "By doing so, you are supporting future leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, security officers, and many other professionals. The youth should be trained early on to nurture an honest, unified, and resilient nation.”