KWIBUKA 29: Rwanda’s tragic history and impressive transformation

In Kinyarwanda, the primary language used in Rwanda, Kwibuka means ‘to remember.’ This week Rwanda does just that as they commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, where, in just 100 days in 1994, an estimated 800,000 men, women and children, were brutally murdered.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda, this is a somber time to share with my friends, colleagues and neighbors. I can never know the horrors that many of them witnessed, and their stories are not mine to share. What I can do, however, is to help others become aware of their history and, just as importantly, their strength and incredible will to recover.

It’s crucial to remember that Rwanda is not defined by this period of its history; the transformation in the 29 years since the Genocide Against the Tutsi has been nothing short of astonishing. Rwanda is now consistently ranked as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa. Rwanda has the highest percentage of women in parliament of any country in the world. The health center I serve at regularly gets urgent blood and medication deliveries from autonomous drones. All of this would not be possible if it weren’t for the unwavering strength of so many Rwandans and their ability to reconcile with their tragic past.

Living in Rwanda and witnessing this resiliency every day is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I hope others will take the time to learn and celebrate it as well.

CAMERON MARSH

Rathdrum (currently in Ruhango District, Rwanda)