For the survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Nyanza District, the sound of a cow being led into a homestead carried meaning far beyond agriculture – it marked a return to a life once interrupted by unimaginable loss.

Fifteen vulnerable families received cows from telecommunications company Airtel, in partnership with Ibuka and Nyanza District, as part of efforts to link remembrance with long-term recovery. For beneficiaries, the gesture reopened memories of a time when cattle represented both wealth and everyday sustenance.

"Our parents had cows, but they were all taken away during the Genocide,” said survivor Chantal Mugwaneza. "Today, we are drinking milk again, and we are truly grateful.”

Airtel Rwanda donated the 15 cows on June 26, in Busasamana Sector, as part of activities marking the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The beneficiaries were drawn from Nyagisozi, Ntyazo and Cyabakamyi sectors.

ALSO READ: 32 years later, Rwanda remembers

The initiative falls under Rwanda’s Girinka programme, through which cattle are used to improve household welfare by providing milk for nutrition, manure for agriculture and a sustainable source of income through breeding and milk production, Airtel observed.

Before the handover, Airtel Rwanda and Airtel Money Rwanda management and staff paid tribute to Genocide victims at Nyanza Genocide Memorial, where more than 31,000 victims are laid to rest.

Speaking during the ceremony, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director Sujay Chakrabarti said remembrance should go beyond honouring those who were killed and extend to improving the lives of survivors.

"Kwibuka is a time to remember, to stand with survivors, and to reaffirm our collective responsibility to build a future founded on unity, compassion and hope,” he said.

"While no gesture can erase the pain of the past, we hope these cows will contribute to restoring livelihoods, strengthening families and creating lasting opportunities for the beneficiaries.”

ALSO READ: As we mark Kwibuka 32, we must confront genocide ideology at all costs

Chakrabarti added that the initiative was implemented in collaboration with Ibuka and Nyanza District to ensure support reached families most in need.

The choice of Nyanza was also symbolic, he noted. As Rwanda’s former royal capital, the district is renowned for its cattle heritage, particularly the iconic Inyambo royal cows, which have long symbolised dignity, prosperity and cultural identity.

Ibuka Secretary General Naphtal Ahishakiye urged beneficiaries to make the most of the support.

"Work hard now that you have received this support. Take good care of these cows so they can lift your families out of poverty and make hardship a thing of the past,” he said.

Nyanza Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs Nadine Kayitesi commended Airtel Rwanda for choosing the district during the commemoration period, saying that the donation is expected to have a lasting impact.

"In our culture, a cow symbolises wealth, hope and blessings. We appreciate this gesture, which has brought joy to survivor families once again,” she said.

ALSO READ: Nyanza residents urged to support Genocide survivors

More than an economic asset

For the beneficiaries, the donation represents more than an economic asset.

Another beneficiary, Marie Mujawayezu, described the support as life-changing in a context where owning a cow has become unaffordable for many vulnerable households.

"Receiving one is a great blessing,” she said. "It will provide my family with milk and help solve many of the challenges we face at home.”

She added that the support carries deep emotional significance for survivors who lost everything during the Genocide.

"Many of us were left completely alone after the Genocide, with no means of earning a living — not even enough to buy a goat. This support means so much to me.”

According to Ibuka, organisations across Rwanda donate between 700 and 1,000 cows to needy Genocide survivors every year. The organisation expects the number to surpass 1,000 in 2026, reflecting growing commitment to supporting survivors through sustainable livelihood programmes alongside remembrance activities.

The donation forms part of broader efforts to combine remembrance with practical support that restores dignity, strengthens livelihoods, and supports long-term recovery for Genocide survivor families in Nyanza.