What is Never again Rwanda and how was it founded?
Never Again Rwanda (NAR) is a human rights and peace-building organization that was founded in response to the 1994 genocide perpetrated against Tutsis.
NAR took on the responsibility of addressing the divisions that existed between young Rwandans after the genocide.
Through participation in clubs and associations as well as various programs and projects, NAR engages with young people’s intellect and ideas, develops their capacity as leaders, and empowers them to positively contribute to building sustainable peace and development in their nation.
What are the Aims of Never again Rwanda?
Never Again Rwanda aims at promoting mutual understanding, respect, and use of conflict transformation processes among youth in order to build sustainable peace in Rwanda.
How does “Never again Rwanda” run its Projects in the 2-week peace-building institute?
During the 2-week Peace-building Institute which occurs 3 times a year, Never Again Rwanda brings together Rwandan and International university students around the world to gather in Kigali and answer the question “What can Rwanda teach the world?”
Through readings of a shared set of texts, site visits, lectures and group discussions, participants explore themes of genocide, transitional justice, unity and reconciliation, and democracy and good governance.
The students have the opportunity to engage in critical thinking and problem solving, analyze complex issues and develop skills as global citizens in cross-cultural dialogue.
How is NEVER AGAIN RWANDA supporting the world today?
In order to engage youth in dealing with the past constructively, Never Again Rwanda conducts trainings, workshops, national and international public speaking competitions, national and regional conferences on topics related to dealing with traumatic past to build a better future, as well Civil courage during war and genocide. These activities help youth to understand how the past can be reflected on to build a brighter future and get more involved in peace building processes.
What principle guides or inspires NEVER AGAIN RWANDA in its prosperity?
As His Excellency the President of the Republic Paul Kagame said “ the belief that the domain of science and technology was created for the rustic strength of a male brain is just but a myth. President Kagame said that as he was speaking one time at the maiden graduation ceremony at Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology, where he was as Guest of Honor that time
“In the last 20 years, Never AGAIN RWANDA has done everything it could to expose this myth and to change the mindset of Rwandan society. Our guiding principle has been that never again should a Rwandan get less than they deserve or be regarded as a second-class citizen in their country.
Right from the start, we believed that when all facets of our society are equally empowered, we all stand to gain. In the final analysis, the gain is Rwandan because that is how we will be able to stand on our own feet and be responsible for our own destiny.
This is the reason we are happy to see the first cohort of girls that have gone through these gates graduating with honours. Said the General Manager Never again Rwanda Mr. Eric Mahoro
As girls and as citizens of Rwanda, your prospects could not be brighter, for only the sky is the limit. Your accomplishments thus far give us confidence, and to you, good reason to believe that many more accomplishments lie ahead.”
What do you think about regional, Africa and the world conflicts at large?
Speaking to IGIHE the President of NEVER AGAIN RWANDA said the impact of Rwanda genocide was a negative one and we should use it as an example to peace building in the region and the world at large, Mahoro gave an example of whats happening in Congo, South sudan Central African republic and Syria, therefore Never Again Rwanda is doing everything possible so that Rwandan, social, economic and political positive transformation and development.
How is Never Again Rwanda supporting and empowering the Rwandan society today?
Meet Witnesses (women entrepreneurs) whose lives have been changed and Empowered by NEVER AGAIN RWANDA (EYE) Project through entrepreneurship
Tailoring
Meet Clarisse IRAKOZE, 24 years old, the president of Icyizere Cooperative.
Based in the district of Ngoma, in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, four graduates of the EYE Project’s Cohort 2 decided to come together and make a more successful future for themselves by creating a business in tailoring.
Clarissa is an orphan of genocide. Her two older brothers were responsible for taking care of her and tried to pay for her school fees. But the school fees became too expensive and Clarissa had to choose a job over school. Clarissa found a job as a cleaner in the local hospital, but was later fired when they found out she was pregnant. Clarissa had to sit at home all day and had to depend on her newlywed husband. She didn’t have her own income and had to constantly ask her husband for money.
Now Clarissa is the president of her very own cooperative. Although the association has only been in business for 1.5 months, the girls are optimistic and have plans for the future.
“When I was fired from my job for being pregnant, I had to depend on my husband for everything. I felt useless. Now I take care of my husband. It also gives me hope for my [3-year-old] daughter.” – Clarissa
Meet another EYE graduate who is now the president of her very own tailoring cooperative.
Venerande NYIRAMPABWANIMANA, 27 years old comes from Rulindo in the Northern Province. Before joining the EYE Project, Venerande was farming at home with her mom and doing odd jobs to help support her family. There was no time for school and Venerande would go to bed every night with her entire body aching in pain.
After graduating from Cohort 3, she paired with another graduate to form a cooperative. Venerande has also recruited two young girls from her community to teach them tailoring and expand the cooperative. These four young women have pooled their resources together and have already paid for five months of rent for their new business.
Construction
Meet Marie Clarisse UWAMAHORO, 21 years old, the only EYE graduate to complete her training in construction.
Marie Clarisse lives with her grandmother and younger sister in Kigali. Before joining the EYE Project, Marie Clarisse was spending long days farming only to make a small income. She noticed young men in her community making a lot of money in construction and decided that she wanted to join them.
Marie Clarisse landed a big job after completing her internship through the EYE Project and is now making 120,000 RWF per month ($190 USD).
She is currently paying her little sister’s school fees and hopes to save money to open her own business in the distribution of construction supplies.
Hair Dressing
Meet Solange Kamayiresi, 27 years old, a survivor of genocide and a mother of a two-year-old.
Solange was farming to provide for her daughter until she came to the realization that she needed to change careers in order to give her child hope for a better future.
Solange noticed that there were not enough hairdressers in her community in Huye and jumped on the business opportunity.
The EYE Project gave Solange the training she needed and she now earns between 6,000-8,000 RWF per day ($10-$12 USD). Solange plans on saving her earning to open her very own salon in the near future.
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