Yesterday, World Vision International Rwanda staff visited Ntarama Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and learn more about the history.
WVI, Rwanda employees laid wreaths on the mass grave, a final resting place for over 6,000 victims of the Genocide who were killed in Bugesera District.
After the memorial visit, they convened at the World Vision head office in Kigali for dialogues in honor of those who innocently lost their lives during the turmoil. The commemoration aimed at staff remembering and honoring the victims and survivors of the Genocide, learning more about the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, how to continue on the road to rebuilding the country, and ensuring the Genocide never happens again, through fighting its denial.
According to Haidy Wijaya Sung, WVI Rwanda’s Finance Director who spoke on behalf of the National Director, "As an organization, we stand in solidarity with the survivors, and on behalf of WVI Rwanda, I appreciate the men and women who sacrificed their lives to stop the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.”
He urged the participants to be each other’s keepers and continue to work in unity so that what happened in the past will never happen again.
Djamali Habimana, a Representative from the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement took staff through the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and how it was planned and executed.
"It is everybody’s responsibility to ensure that what happened in the past should never happen again,” he added.
The audience also listened to testimony from one of WVI Rwanda’s former sponsored Children and Genocide Survivors, Jean de la Paix Misigaro.
He took the audience through his painful journey as a survivor. Born on 7th April 1994, just two hours after his father had been brutally killed by the Interahamwe Militia, his mother narrated to him his journey to survival since he was just hours old when it all started.
"I am so thankful to God for this opportunity to stand before you and thank WV for being a parent. Through your support, I was able to start school at 10 years of age. With WV, I never lacked, I was given livestock which transformed our livelihoods as a family,” narrates Misigaro.
He added that the livestock was a source of school fees for his sister. They reproduced, and were sold and their lives improved because of that immense support.
"Through, WVI Rwanda, I got the love, my father would have shown me. This gave me hope for the future as a young boy,” mentioned Misigaro.
Misigaro attributes all this to the Government of Rwanda, which has created a conducive environment for various partners to work. He further applauded the Government for restoring the dignity of survivors and giving them, the hope and support needed.
He concluded by urging the youth to stand in one accord and fight against Genocide ideology, using our history as a bridge to the future.
"I thank WVI Rwanda for planning such an activity to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Let’s continue the great partnership at all governance levels as we build our country,” says Emmanuel Karamba,
President of Ibuka, Remera Sector, and representative of Gasabo District.
ABOUT WORLD VISION
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter at @WVRwanda or @WorldVision.