Through composition writing, Josue Niyomutabazi, coordinator of memory and genocide prevention program at Association of Former Students Survivors of the Genocide (GAERG) formed a platform where students would learn and understand the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The platform is an essay competition where participants, mostly from high school, submit their work which is curated around fighting Genocide denial and ideology. The reason for this competition is to give young people the opportunity to be part of the process of rebuilding Rwandans. Through writing about this history, they will be able to participate in educating and building a country free from genocide and its ideology, Niyomutabazi says. The competition’s first edition was launched in 2019 and was organised amongst high schools in Kigali and Bugesera district. This year, the competition happened for the second time was open to the public. Niyomutabazi says he found it necessary to tackle genocide denial, and choosing writing as the right platform was based on how the writing culture among Rwandans is developing, making it the right platform to share this kind of information. “Denying and belittling the Genocide against the Tutsi delays healing for survivors, which also hinders the process of unity and reconciliation. Those who do this intend to protect and conceal the perpetrators, so this has led us to use this method of competition to fight it,” he says. “It is in this context that this approach will help in the fight against hypocrites and deniers of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This form of writing will also help groom young ones to become great researchers and help in boosting literature that is based on evidence,” he adds. The competition has been focusing on high school students but organisers are hoping to involve both primary and university students as well. Winners speak out Winners were announced on 5 May. They received cash, mobile phones, laptops and certificates for their outstanding performance in the competition. Winny Tona says taking part in the competition was her way of showing the young generation that fighting genocide ideology is not meant for any specific group of people and that it’s possible to prevent it regardless of who you are, what you do or which platform you choose to use. “I had to use my artwork as a weapon to fight and prevent Genocide denial and its ideology.” She says she saw this competition as an opportunity and platform for writers, most especially young ones. “And the fact that it calls for writers to raise a voice against genocide deniers, itself contributes a lot to the country by spreading the right and true information about the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi in Rwanda. Personally I would say that, because of this competition, I have gained experience on how to fight deniers plus knowing a lot about our history,” Tona notes. “Emerging as the winner in poetry category was a great achievement for me, because all of the contestants were really bright and intelligent in the competition. But then, having won the competition made me believe in my artworks and that I can still do more. The most beautiful and powerful thing for me was that, I shared my part in this struggle of fighting genocide denial and its ideology,” she adds. Didier Manzi says this competition is such an honour for the youth to be part of those fighting against genocide ideology. “As youth, we need to use every possible means like social media to keep on fighting any sort of genocide ideology and denial to keep them from spreading,” he says. Manzi says winning this competition encouraged him to do more in order to serve his country. “Winning confirmed that I am in the right path to serving my country and the people that I love!” Esther Ndacyayisenga wrote an article that expressed how denial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is an obstacle to meaningful reconciliation and healing. “The deliberate speeches and writings by genocide deniers are continuously cutting through the hearts of survivors and the nation at large,” she says. Her article hence advocates for the strong relevancy of recognising genocide denial and the importance that is in preventing future large-scale atrocities in the world. “Recognition of denial shall enhance access to justice and boost the survivors’ ability to heal.” For her, this competition is a good platform for the youth to give their contribution in the fight against genocide denial, particularly, an opportunity for participants to voice their views with hope that they reach a bigger audience. “I was very happy to be among the winners. It’s given me the motivation to continue playing my role, however small, to fight against genocide ideology and denial of the 1994 Tutsi genocide as well as other forms of injustice.”
