As Rwandans marked 100 days of commemoration of genocide against Tutsi, genocide survivors expressed that they are very hopeful about their future and some say they are already successful in various domains including business.
The Minister of Sports and Culture Mitali Protais was the guest of honour at the AVEGA Agahozo closing ceremony held on July 3, 2012.
“By remembering don’t be dominated by sorrow, don’t be threatened. Now we stop mourning for a while, we are going to feel some how happy, but it is not the end of mourning because even after we die, those victims will be remembered forever”.
The first lady Jeannette Kagame also participated in the ceremony at AVEGA marking 100 days of commemoration of Genocide against Tutsis.
Genocide survivors presented their testimonies of how they survived and explained about their daily lives, and future perspectives.
Most of them said that they were dispersed and despaired, because they lost spouses and relatives. Today they are very hopeful thanks to AVEGA that consoled and supported them after Genocide.
Murebwayire Console recounted what happened to her and said that she survived after being beaten and tortured. She was left in pain and wounded by Interahamwe militia and her husband was killed.
Another widow said that they wished they had died than living, before AVEGA helped them on managing trauma and tolerating killers.
She said that after all that happened to her and later forgiving the killers, she is turning into a successful business woman in Kirehe District.
She led Gacaca court in the sector level, and all citizens are have confidence in her that she sometimes works as Sector executive staff in the absence of Executive. Now She is also an exemplary farmer.
Kayirere Odette, the director of AVEGA, screened a film revealing the life of consequences of Genocide to survivors, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS, as long as some of violated mothers don’t know the names of their children’s fathers.
IBUKA’s Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu encouraged Genocide widows to live without fear and congratulated genocide widows upon using well their opportunity of suvivance,as some of them have become business planers of reference.
Kayirere added that most of vulnerable genocide widows of over 70 years are found in Southern province,at the level of up 1762 with high rate of helpless of 357 Widows.
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