The “I Am Rwandan” program offered a vital opportunity for participants to reflect on their past, rebuild their identity, and contribute to a united Rwanda.

Decades of colonial divide, regional and ethnic discrimination, and sporadic violence culminated in the 1994 Genocide. The I Am Rwandan initiative seeks to restore unity, provide a sense of self-worth, and guide the children of genocide perpetrators to understand that no one’s Rwandan identity is greater than another’s.

Executive Secretary of Unity Club – Intwararumuri, Mrs. Judith Uwacu, explained that before colonialism, Rwandans shared everything: country, culture, language, religion, and values rooted in communal life such as helping each other, marriage traditions, and sharing. Colonial rule disrupted this unity, introducing divisions based on ethnicity, region, and even religion, leading to displacement, sporadic killings, and ultimately the 1994 Genocide.

Uwacu emphasized that the I Am Rwandan program helps participants realize that no Rwandan identity is superior to another and encourages actions that strengthen national unity. She said the program provides a space to discuss and solve personal and communal problems, serves as a foundation for personal identity, eliminates artificial divisions among Rwandans, and acts as a “tree” that allows children to avoid bearing the burdens of their parents’ past actions.

The session was complemented by the testimony of Irène Mizero, whose parents were perpetrators in the Genocide. She shared how the government supported her like any other child, covering her education through university, leading to employment without discrimination. She expressed gratitude to I Am Rwandan, noting that it enabled her to advance in life and become a Guardian of the Covenant.

Other prisoners shared their personal transformations. Gakwerere Alexis from Bugesera Facility said, “I Am Rwandan helped me understand that I am Rwandan above all else. I realized my own worth and decided to change. I committed to restoring truth in my family because the program helped me understand my role in the Genocide and even start conversations about it.”

Ngoboka Jean from Ngoma Facility added, “I Am Rwandan made me feel Rwandan, and I now want to work with others to build our country. I will encourage others to embrace Rwandan identity over ethnicity or region, and I believe it will help me rebuild myself when I return home.”

The training highlighted that the I Am Rwandan program is a critical platform for fostering unity, self-awareness, and reconciliation. Participants’ testimonies demonstrate that education, teaching values of unity and reconciliation, and helping the children of genocide perpetrators embrace their Rwandan identity are key steps toward building a peaceful and united Rwanda.