MUHANGA - Students and staff of Kavumu College of Education (KCE), last week, remembered victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in Muhanga District.

The Bishop of Kabgayi Diocesse, Smargade Mbonyintege, led the group in a solemn mass in which students paid tribute to their beloved families, and made a commitment to fight genocide ideology.

The Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo,  guest speaker, urged students to take the first step in rebuilding the country.

He said: "Students should be part of the struggle to change the history of this country. You should avoid being idle because it may result into doing wrong things, instead of striving to build your self esteem and country.”

Ntawukuliryayo urged the students to restore a new hope and to speak the truth as a way of rebuilding the community.

The Director of KCE, Casmir Rutayitera, asked the students to use their education appropriately in contributing to positive national growth and development.

He also encouraged them to carry out more research on the Genocide and to educate the community about it.

Louis Nshimiyimana, the representative of student’s survivors association (AERG-KCE), stated that the association has 41 members, grouped in three families.

He said, "The association has managed to address issues of survivors, bring new hope and build self esteem based on the good values and legacy left behind by their parents.”

The Ibuka official present at the ceremony, Jean Pierre Buranga, also urged the students to have positive thinking since the government is supportive. He encouraged them to fight genocide ideology that is mostly perpetrated via the internet.

"We should be in a position to fight back mostly by responding  to the false allegations and comments on the internet. This is the way we can be able to express the truth about Rwanda,” Buranga said.

Local leaders promised continuous support and advocacy and urged the students to be agents of change and development.

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