Skol pays tribute to Genocide victims, urges continued fight against genocide ideology

To honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Skol Brewery Ltd staff visited the Nyanza Genocide Memorial on April 8, during which they emphasised the need for a continued fight against genocide ideology. The Nyanza Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 105,000 victims of the Genocide that claimed over one million innocent lives in just 100 days. During the visit, Skol staff laid wreaths and observed a moment of silence, which was followed by an insightful tour led by Gilbert Gasigwa, Communication Officer at IBUKA, who walked the staff through the history of the Genocide, and the significance of the memorial. He highlighed key symbols such as the garden of memory, the one million small stones representing the lives lost, and the 100 large stones symbolising the 100 days of horror. ALSO READ: SKOL Brewery Ltd continues commitment to supporting local community Thibault Relecom, owner of Skol Brewery Ltd, emphasised the importance of remembrance and the continued effort to combat genocide ideology, which remains central to Rwanda's healing and reconciliation process. He spoke deeply about the significance of reflecting on the suffering endured by victims during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, acknowledging the pain and lasting scars left on the country. “Today, like every day, but especially today and in this period, we must remember the suffering of those who were killed or physically harmed during the Genocide. It’s a powerful moment to be surrounded by all of you, my colleagues, as we acknowledge and respect the past. We must never forget, but we should also remain hopeful,” he stated. Relecom also highlighted Rwanda’s remarkable journey of development since the Genocide, underlining that the progress made is a symbol of resilience. “The flame that represents Rwanda's rebirth is a symbol of where we want to stand in the future—at the forefront of our nation’s development, alongside the Rwandan people. I am deeply grateful to be part of this journey,” he added. ALSO READ: SKOL Brewery honours Genocide victims, looks to Rwanda’s future One of the staff members, Francine Isimbi, Packaging Manager at Skol Brewery, shared her reflection as a youth who grew up after the Genocide. “Today, I learned a lot about the history of my country. I realised that youth played a role both in the Genocide and in stopping it. It’s important to protect our history because one must know where they come from to understand where they are going,” she said. She also urged her fellow youth to take action against genocide denial, particularly on social media. “We must fight against these denials and protect our country from the risk of such atrocities happening again. We are united, we are all Rwandans, and we will ensure that this can never happen again,” she added.

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Skol pays tribute to Genocide victims, urges continued fight against genocide ideology