{"id":55849,"date":"2025-10-05T12:37:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T12:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/rwandan-youth-from-south-africa-visit-homeland-to-explore-history-and-heritage\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T18:10:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:10:52","slug":"rwandan-youth-from-south-africa-visit-homeland-to-explore-history-and-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwandan-youth-from-south-africa-visit-homeland-to-explore-history-and-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwandan youth from South Africa visit homeland to explore history and heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A group of young Rwandans living in South Africa has visited their homeland for the first time, participating in a 10-day programme designed to educate them about Rwanda\u2019s history and development.<\/p>\n<p>The visit, organised under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation\u2019s \u201cCome and See, Go and Tell\u201d initiative, aimed to help Rwandans born or raised abroad connect with their roots and share their experiences with others.<\/p>\n<p>During the programme, the youth toured key historical and cultural sites, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Museum of the Struggle to Stop the Genocide. They learned about the events leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the role of the Rwandan Patriotic Front in ending it.<\/p>\n<p>Sixteen-year-old Kazenga Rukundo said the trip gave him a deeper understanding of Rwanda.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere we live in South Africa, we don\u2019t know much about our country. I came here to learn so I can return with knowledge of where I come from. I will tell others about how safe Rwanda is and how forgiveness was extended to those involved in the genocide \u2014 it\u2019s a lesson other countries could learn from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Faith Aisha, another participant, said the visit inspired her to consider working in Rwanda, noting the country\u2019s peaceful environment and opportunities for development.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am pleased there is peace, no noise, and the atmosphere is welcoming. It\u2019s a place I would enjoy working in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Lehumo Ivan Umutoni encouraged other Rwandans born abroad to visit the country, saying the experience helped him appreciate Rwanda\u2019s culture and history.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRwanda is a beautiful and safe country. Everyone who has never visited should take the opportunity to see it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The youth will also be assisted in obtaining official Rwandan documents, helping them strengthen their ties with the country.<\/p>\n<p>Maziyateke Sandrine, Director of Rwanda Community Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, described the programme as an important step in connecting diaspora youth to their homeland.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis initiative helps children of Rwandans born abroad learn about their country and encourages them to share that knowledge with others. We are hopeful that future visits will see even greater participation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The 10-day programme includes visits to multiple sites highlighting Rwanda\u2019s history, culture, and development achievements.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95608 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0362-2-a2d2a.jpg\" alt=\"When the youth were received at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95605 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0387-2-eaa1f.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95606 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0411-2-24ded.jpg\" alt=\"The youth were briefed on the historical events that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95607 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0386-939e3.jpg\" alt=\"Sixteen-year-old Kazenga Rukundo expressed excitement at visiting Rwanda as his homeland, noting that the trip would help him gain a deeper understanding of the country.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95609 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0367-2-37983.jpg\" alt=\"Lehumo Ivan Umutoni said that Rwandans born abroad who have never visited the country are missing out on a lot.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95603 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0478-2-26859.jpg\" alt=\"The youth laid wreaths and paid tribute to the victims interred at the memorial.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95604 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0446-b09ae.jpg\" alt=\"Following the memorial visit, the youth group leader stressed the importance of preventing a repeat of such atrocities.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95602 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0517-2-55284.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95601 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0490-2-1affa.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95600 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0543-3-298ac.jpg\" alt=\"The group also visited the Campaign Against Genocide Museum.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95599 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0637-38491.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95591 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0741-2-09269.jpg\" alt=\"Murekatete Husna as she took in the view of Kigali city.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95598 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0618-43126.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95597 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0639-81fa3.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95596 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0665-f85a6.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95595 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0708-2-cd93a.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95594 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0729-4c642.jpg\" alt=\"Lehumo Ivan Umutoni emphasised that the level of safety in Rwanda is unmatched elsewhere.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95593 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0682-b851c.jpg\" alt=\"Sixteen-year-old Kazenga Rukundo expressed delight at how safe Rwanda is.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-95592 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/2i1a0753-2-24d76.jpg\" alt=\"The youth were also promised assistance in obtaining Rwandan identification documents.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Photos: Habyarimana Raoul<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A group of young Rwandans living in South Africa has visited their homeland for the first time, participating in a 10-day programme designed to educate them about Rwanda\u2019s history and development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000095610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-55849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default 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