In Huye District, a dialogue forum bringing together elders and youth was held with the aim of exchanging views on issues that threaten peace and unity seeking sustainable solutions, grounded in unity and reconciliation.
The event was organized by Peace Ambassadors Network (PAN) through the Huye Community Center (Huye CPC) in partnership with AEGIS Trust, under the theme: “Promoting Unity and Reconciliation to Build Sustainable Peace.”
Cecile Umurazawase, The Coordinator of PAN in Huye, Gisagara and Nyanza Districts, said the platform was created to provide space for open dialogue on peace-related challenges and to collectively find lasting solutions.
“We established this platform to discuss issues that hinder peace and to jointly seek sustainable peace. That is why we brought together elders and youth those who know the history must teach the younger generation so that they uphold unity and reconciliation.” She said.
She further emphasized that young people are highly active on social media, and therefore must be guided to use these platforms responsibly by sharing accurate information about Rwanda’s history.
“We realized that many young people do not fully understand Rwanda’s history and need support. They must understand it well so they can pass it on correctly to others. Unfortunately, there are still some elders with genocidal ideology who provide misleading information to the youth,” Umurazawase added.
She stressed that peacebuilding dialogues help youth develop values that promote peace in Rwanda and globally, noting that Rwanda’s experience with the consequences of division highlights the importance of peace as a foundation of human dignity.
Mutangana Fabien leader of civil society organizations in Huye District, working with CCN Rwanda in the field of justice, noted that many cases they handle are linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, particularly trauma-related psychological wounds.
“There are couples living together without truly understanding each other, and families experiencing conflicts rooted in genocide history, which sometimes lead to separation. This shows that there is still a serious issue that needs continued attention,” He said.
He added that youth must be taught accurate historical facts, as even those born after the Genocide continue to be affected by its consequences. “There is a need for specific approaches in engaging youth, because some people distort history. Young people must be taught the truth so that they become agents of unity and reconciliation,” He emphasized.
Youth participants said the dialogue equipped them with knowledge to avoid actions that undermine peace, particularly those carried out through digital platforms.
Kayishema Jean shared:“This has been a very special day for me because I learned many things I must avoid that could disrupt others’ peace. I will also play a role in educating those who do not understand that unity is the foundation of well-being.”
Elders attending the forum acknowledged that some parents teach genocide history incorrectly, sometimes reinforcing ethnic divisions.
Mukamana Venantie said:“As parents, we should not teach our children false history. What our country went through destroyed it, and rebuilding requires time and the contribution of everyone.”
Organizers concluded by emphasizing that continuing such dialogues is essential for building a society based on peace, unity, and reconciliation, with youth at the center as the foundation of Rwanda’s future.
