Youth are working for peace in Rwanda
In Rwanda, there is a common motto, URUBYIRUKO: IMBARAGA Z’IGIHUGU KANDI ZUBAKA which literary says” YOUTH: A BUILDING STRENGTH OF THE NATION.” The saying became a reality as a new generation is contributing to the vision of a united and prosperous society through peace-building programs. This is following the 1994 genocide against Tutsi that tore Rwanda apart.
This resonates particularly well in Rwanda, where more than 70% of the population is youth, with a large proportion born after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
CARSA has been working with youth through the Peace Education Program for a decade now. The lessons they were taught, the talks they were given, and the support to visit genocide memorials, especially Kigali and Nyamata memorial sites, have become a source of inspiration and educating tools, and they are now using them to support others in their efforts to build a prosperous and a resilient country.
Among them is Antoine NSHIMIYIMANA, a 21-year-old young boy and level one student at Rwanda Polytechnic, Musanze College, and is among the champions of the peace club affiliated with the Ministry of National Unity & Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) and Unity Club that operates at this college.
This young man, Antoine, has pledged to use his energy in civic activities that will benefit the country. He embarked on this journey in the past seven years (7) when he was a member of the PEACE CLUB at G.S. Ngoma based in Muhanga district, where they rallied together in activities to learn the country's major history and start working for peace.
“At high school we had peace club established by CARSA, as young people who were born post-genocide, we used that platform to learn and understand the history of our country especially about the genocide against Tutsi. We had the opportunity of visiting the Kigali genocide memorial site where we witnessed the effects of the genocide history we can’t read from any book; that was my first motivation,” says Antoine.
“The first lesson I got from the peace club that helped me, was to learn the history because the painful historical events of our country happened before we were born, we were not there. So, understanding them is a key to us to avoid some of the mistakes of the past,” adds Antoine.
Photo of Antoine doing Umuganda around Musanze RP college neighbourhood
Growing up in the peace club developed Antoine’s character and became a well-informed young man who feels more responsible for his country. Even at University where every person is allowed to do his own stuff, he is still enjoying sharing Rwanda's history and engaging in social assistance activities. To him Peace club is beyond a space for meetings and learning about the history of genocide or restoration of relationships but also a platform to know government’s vision.
“Peace Club is a good approach to connecting people, because when we meet, we get a chance to examine the problems we have in our society, and then we start responding to them accordingly. Thus, we find that it is a great platform to contribute to the restoration and reliance of our country,”
“Through the CARSA initiative called Arts for Peace, we used art such as poetry, theater, and songs which carry peacebuilding messages, fostering resilience and, fighting any sorts of genocide ideology among young people etc.”
Their peace club is contributing a lot toward a lasting peace and development. “Everything we do, whether it is organizing peace talks, participating in Umuganda, hands-on support for homeless, making kitchen garden to sustain the most in need is a priceless contribution to the Rwandans society.”
Antoine has a vision to contribute building a better society in Rwanda “This country was destroyed by ethnic divisionism 31 years ago and the manipulated young people were on the front lines involved in heinous crimes. We have come far to rebuild it and now it’s our time to take the lead. It’s our time to understand where our country came from and commit to never letting it happen again.”
Empowering youth with knowledge and skills about peace ensures Rwanda’s reconciliation journey remains strong. When young people embrace unity and reject division, they become ambassadors of peace and contribute to a lasting, peaceful future.
Antoine portrait
Antoine with his fellow youth after constructing kichen garden
