Teaching empathy through history: Kayitesi’s book guides teens on unity and resilience

Judence Kayitesi has released a new book, The Unity Quest, to help children and families understand Rwanda’s history and the importance of unity. The book draws on her own experiences during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and presents the events in a way teenagers can understand without being overwhelmed. ALSO READ: Genocide survivor seeks to expose deniers in new book Kayitesi, a genocide survivor and mother of three now living in Germany, says she wrote the book as a way to help children to understand issues such as human difference, discrimination, and resilience, while prompting meaningful self-reflection. It includes interactive sections where young readers can write about their own experiences of unity or lessons they learned. “It’s not just about learning these values, It’s about living them.” The Unity Quest introduces differences among people, like birthplace, social status, religion, culture, and explains that while people may look or believe differently, all are human and deserve respect. On page 19, she writes, “We are one family under God. We are one people.The race, color, religion, language, countries and many more differences are not what define us. We are all equal. We are one big family.” The book also touches on Rwanda’s history before colonization, showing how discrimination shaped beliefs toward Tutsi and Hutu children. Kayitesi experienced this firsthand. At 11, she survived the genocide, which left her unable to speak and stripped her memory. “I had to practice from a book, repeating words I struggled to pronounce. Relearning a language was like starting over as a child. Writing became my way to reconnect with the world, communicate and rebuild my life,” she said. Her first book, A Broken Life, allowed her to process trauma and reclaim her story. Her second, Choosing Resilience, focused on rebuilding life after loss, showing that survival is just the beginning of recovery. Teaching teens about the Genocide In The Unity Quest, Kayitesi uses her personal story to explain the genocide in a way teenagers can grasp. It covers pre-1994 school practices, including how children were asked to identify by ethnic identity, reflecting how adults were identified on ID cards. She recalls classmates telling her they would take her clothes once she was dead. These experiences are presented with illustrations and text designed to inform without traumatising young readers. The book also explains what happened after the genocide, how survivors were saved, how the Gacaca courts worked, and how schools became inclusive spaces. Children today, she says, need guidance to understand both history and how to live in a diverse society. Since she lives in Germany, Kayitesi included diverse characters in different clothing and colors, showing that respect for humanity extends beyond Rwanda. In German schools, the book has been used to address racism and discrimination. “Black children are sometimes called monkeys or treated differently because of where they come from. This book helps teenagers understand separation and discrimination in their own context,” she explains. Kayitesi notes that children are born innocent and that it is society that teaches harmful ideologies, explaining why education and dialogue are important. Healing process She noted that the healing process has been ongoing. Memories resurface, and the loss of parents and siblings is a constant presence. Therapy helped her work through her grief, rediscover who she was, and start truly living again. Her two younger brothers, the only surviving family members, gave her a sense of responsibility that kept her going. Later, her children deepened that purpose, driving her forward. “I needed to be emotionally present, strong, and resilient to raise them in a nurturing environment.” Writing became a way to guide her children and teach them about life and endurance without passing on the weight of trauma. Storytelling and empathy Through school visits in Rwanda and Germany, Kayitesi has seen how storytelling can change young people’s perspectives. “A student once said she disliked a classmate with blue hair, only to realise through discussion that the girl was kind. Moments like these show how stories break down prejudice and build empathy,” she said. Her books bridge cultures, helping Rwandan children learn about their past while giving international readers tools to confront discrimination in their own communities. Later this year, she plans to publish another book, The Bridge Between Worlds, exploring life between cultures and helping children of mixed heritage find a sense of belonging. It will be available in English and German. Kayitesi continues her advocacy as president of IBUKA Deutschland and founder of Inzozi Publishers. She advises about genocide denial and misinformation online, stressing the need for accurate resources. She encourages young people born after 1994 to meet survivors and listen to firsthand testimony. “Reading is important, but you need to look for the right books and sources.” Writing as healing Writing has always been part of Kayitesi’s healing. From A Broken Life to Choosing Resilience and now The Unity Quest, her books show her journey from trauma to survival to teaching. She noted that sharing her story has not only helped her process grief but also inspired others. One reader told her, “Listening to your story helped me. You survived and are smiling. If you can continue, then so can I.” The Unity Quest will be officially launched in Rwanda in September.

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Teaching empathy through history: Kayitesi’s book guides teens on unity and resilience