Rwanda Shima Imana was more than a Christian gathering. Seeing thousands of people from different denominations worship together at Amahoro Stadium was a reminder of how far Rwanda has come and of the challenge for our generation to protect, preserve and sustain our heritage. For the last thirty-two years, Rwandans have successfully rebuilt a country devastated by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Today, most of us the youth have grown up knowing a country that is peaceful, secure and increasingly connected to the modern world. That is a blessing. But it also comes with a responsibility. For many of us, walking home without fear, studying alongside people from different backgrounds, starting a business or competing for a job based on our abilities feels normal and, yes sometimes we take it for granted. For the generation before us, these things could not simply be assumed. The danger is that when a hard-won achievement becomes normal, we can easily forget what it took to achieve it. Never Again cannot be something we remember only during Kwibuka. It must shape everyday decisions. Imagine students at university hearing a classmate repeat an ethnic stereotype disguised as a joke. Do they laugh and move on, or challenge it? Imagine a young Rwandan receiving a provocative TikTok, YouTube video or WhatsApp message misrepresenting Rwanda's history or even the current situation. Do we immediately forward it because it confirms what we already believe, or do we interrogate it first: Who created this? What evidence supports it? What is this person trying to make me believe about my motherland-Rwanda? These seemingly small decisions are where unity is either strengthened or weakened. The Genocide ideology does not always announce itself openly. It can survive through stereotypes, family conversations, misinformation and the gradual normalisation of prejudice. That is why it should concern us when someone born long after 1994 inherits hatred toward people or events they have never personally known. Our generation should be the one that breaks that chain. Merit and fairness are not merely good management practices in Rwanda. They help ensure that old-fashioned divisions do not find new reasons to return. Our leadership has provided opportunities, platforms and systems good enough for us to use and thrive. A young person in Musanze, Huye, Nyagatare or Rusizi is able to see a future for themselves through education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, tourism or industry. Nonetheless, Gratitude should not make us comfortable. It should make us responsible. This is perhaps the strongest lesson Rwanda Shima Imana left with me. For a business leader, gratitude can mean creating jobs, mentoring young professionals and refusing discrimination in recruitment and promotion. For a public servant, it means treating citizens fairly and protecting public resources. For a teacher, it means helping students understand Rwanda's history without passing prejudice to another generation. For a content creator, it means refusing to turn division and misinformation into clicks. For Rwandans in the diaspora, it means staying connected to credible information, engaging critically with competing narratives and contributing constructively to the country's future. And for young people, it means understanding that the Rwanda we inherited is not guaranteed to remain peaceful and united simply because that is the Rwanda we have always known. Every generation receives something from the generation before it. We inherited a country rebuilt at enormous human cost. We cannot repay those who carried that burden. But we can honour them by refusing to destroy what they rebuilt - even when we're tempted by money or whatever opportunities. Remember all that glitter is not gold. Let our thanksgiving therefore become responsibility: integrity in our workplaces, excellence in our schools, fairness in our institutions, service in our communities and courage to reject hatred wherever we encounter it. The generation before us answered the question: Can Rwanda rise again? Our generation must answer the next one: What kind of Rwanda will we leave behind? This is the challenge for my generation. The author is a professional accountant and currently pursuing certification with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
