{{Youth Literacy Organisation (YouLI) has, this week, released a book containing a collection of 20 poems, on themes of genocide commemoration and remembrance.}}
The 20 poems are written by young Rwandans aged between 14 and 28. They were
compiled under The Poetry Project 19, a project launched by YouLI in March 2013, just ahead of the 19th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Through the project, YouLI aims to encourage Rwandan youth to (1) tell their own stories and the story of Rwanda, (2) contribute to the literature on Rwanda and the history of the genocide, and (3) foster their creative expression skills through writing.
Each poem within the collection tells a unique story but they all embrace remembrance, forgiveness, and hope for a brighter future.
They take the reader from experiences of anger, blame and regret over a despicable history, to the rising promise of a new generation that carries the responsibility of turning “never again” into reality.
Speaking at the Kwibuka20 Café Littéraire on Sunday, 6 April 2014, YouLI’s Executive
Director, Gilbert Rwabigwi, said, “This is more than just a collection of poems because it also represents what the youth today stands for.
They stand for unity, and rebuilding, with dignity and strong commitments to renew the national, despite the very tragic history of our country.”
“For us,” he said, “writing about our views and experiences related to the history of
Rwanda is very important as we seek to heal the wounds that were left by the genocide andpreserve the memories.”
Published by Bloo Books, Ltd., the first copies of the book were available at the Kwibuka20 Café Littéraire and at the Parliament before Walk to Remember. Copies of the book are now available at publisher’s office in town and Ikirezi Bookshop.
An electronic version of the collection will also be made available in the next few weeks through major eBooks markets.
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