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Kinyarwanda
Members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers Organization (RYVO) visited Kigali Memorial Centre in Gisozi on April 23 to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and called upon the youth to spearhead the transformation of the country which was partly destroyed by youngsters 20 years ago.
At the memorial centre, the youth laid wreaths on mass graves in honor of over 250, 000 remains killed in Kigali during the genocide. They were also taken through various memorial rooms and explained on how the killings were planned and the role played by the youth in implementing the extermination plans.
Jean Bosco Mutangana, the organization President said they also visited the centre to get more information on the country’s bad past and the role played by the youth during the genocide which claimed more than one million innocent lives.
“When you look at the history of our country, much of the atrocities were committed by the youth as they were involved in all forms of killings. As we remember and renew our country, the youngsters should also be critical in rebuilding their country, fight genocide ideology and anything that can cause insecurity,” Jean Bosco Mutangana, the organization President, said.
The organization supported by Rwanda National Police has about 7, 000 members countrywide, majority whom are students and graduates.
It supports vulnerable communities by giving them medical insurance, livestock and carryout crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities against drug abuse, corruption and gender and domestic violence, among others.
“Through telling the truth, fighting negative ideologies and any illegal or criminal acts, we will be driving this country further towards a better future. We believe the awareness will contribute towards a crime-free Rwanda,” Mutangana added.
“By promoting Rwanda’s good image and having a heart to forgive, we will be preventing anything that might bring back the bad past,” Joseph Munyaneza, one of the organization members and a fourth-year student from the Catholic University of Rwanda, observed.
