Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
A visit to Ntarama Genocide Memorial changes perspectives of members of UNICEF-supported Youth Advocates Network members
On June 7, 2025, thirty members of the Youth Advocates Network (YAN), including committee representatives, gathered in Bugesera District for a powerful and reflective visit to the Ntarama Genocide Memorial. This visit, organised in partnership with UNICEF Rwanda, formed part of the broader Kwibuka commemoration period, a time to remember the lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, to unite in healing, and to renew a shared commitment to “Never Again.”
At Ntarama, a solemn and sacred site, the youth took time to learn about the history and impact of the genocide, particularly within the Bugesera region. Through guided tours and testimony, they deepened their understanding of the roots and consequences of hate fueled division, while reflecting on Rwanda’s ongoing journey of reconciliation, resilience, and rebuilding.
“Visiting Ntarama reminded me that remembrance is not just about the past, it’s about our responsibility to protect the future. I left with a stronger sense of purpose."
This visit was more than a remembrance, it was a call to action. The Youth Advocates Network made donations to the memorial as well as to a genocide survivor, reaffirming their solidarity with survivors and their role in fostering a compassionate, inclusive society.
For YAN members, the experience was not just personal. Each participant was encouraged to take what they had learned and carry it forward, sharing reflections within their communities, their organisations, and across the wider network. In doing so, the lessons of the past can inform a future built on unity, peace, and youth-led transformation.
As UNICEF Rwanda continues to work with young people across the country, initiatives like this underscore the importance of equipping youth not only with knowledge, but with purpose so they may become champions of truth, remembrance, and hope for generations to come.
"Seeing the pain etched in the walls of Ntarama changed something in each of us. We want to make sure our peers understand why unity and truth matter.”
