Kwibuka: ‘Remember’
Each year, on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we take time to remember the events of 1994. Over the course of 100 days, more than one million Tutsi, as well as moderate Hutu were killed. Communities were deeply divided, and the effects continue to be felt.
This day is an opportunity to remember those who died and to reflect on the ongoing work of healing, reconciliation and rebuilding.
Five Talents’ are currently operating in four dioceses across Rwanda where the legacy of the genocide continues to shape daily life. Our partners also witness the resilience of communities rebuilding and healing, supported in part through savings and literacy groups.
This year, we are seeking to listen to and share the voices of women whose lives have been affected, hearing first-hand how they are moving forward within their communities.
These testimonies reflect a range of perspectives, and together, they offer a picture of communities working, step by step, towards forgiveness, greater trust, connection and unity.
Claudine
I encourage future generations to avoid divisions, genocide ideology, hatred, and any influence from individuals who promote harmful ideas that could lead to violence. I will pass on to my children the values of love, unity, and mutual understanding. I am deeply grateful to our country for having worked to eliminate discrimination among Rwandans.
Chantal
My hope is that future generations will protect peace.
Uwimana
As the child of someone who participated in the genocide, I still face challenges. At times I feel judged for something I had no part in. To other young people, I would say: we should not remain defined by our parents’ actions. We were not part of what happened. Instead, we should reject division and play a role in building a more united country.
Immaculée
This is part of a dark and tragic history… a time where evil operated openly and people fled without direction. The next generation must avoid anything that could lead to hatred or genocide ideology and not follow the example of what their relatives did to us in the past in the name of revenge. Instead, they should become role models in promoting and building a culture of peace.
These testimonies reflect different experiences of the same history, carried across generations and communities. Together, they show not only the complexity of its legacy, but also the ways in which people are rebuilding trust, relationships and livelihoods.
Across Rwanda, communities continue to take steps forward, supported by local leadership, faith, and initiatives such as savings and literacy groups. Through these, people are finding ways to live and work together, with a shared commitment to peace and a future shaped not by division, but by unity.