The thanksgiving event brought together President Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, and hundreds of leaders from across the country, and was organised by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship.

In his remarks, the President underscored that resilience must be deeply embedded at every level of society, starting with individuals and families. He stated, “Resilience must be in everything we do. We must build families that are resilient, individuals must build themselves to have resilience, and from that, the country itself becomes resilient.”

President Kagame reminded participants that Rwanda’s very existence today is a result of resilience demonstrated through difficult and painful periods in the country’s history. He noted, “Rwanda has been resilient. If Rwanda had not been resilient, you would not be sitting here today; none of us would be here.”

Linking resilience to national memory and sacrifice, the President reflected on the meaning of Heroes Day, explaining, “Why Heroes Day? It is because every nation or people of this World find themselves in one situation or another, or circumstances, that also informs and influences their actions and struggles.”

He said the commemoration serves as a reminder of Rwanda’s journey, its struggles, and the responsibility of the living to carry the nation forward.

The President further stressed that resilience is inseparable from identity and self-awareness. He cautioned against abandoning who one is in pursuit of external models, saying, “Do not make the mistake of finding yourself thinking that you should be someone other than who you are. You should be who you are.”

Addressing the consequences of past sacrifices, President Kagame concluded by urging Rwandans to ensure that the lives lost were not lost in vain. He said, “Our people who died have departed, but for those of us who are still alive, their death should not be in vain.”

The National Prayer Breakfast provided a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to building a resilient Rwanda, grounded in its history, identity, and shared responsibility for the future.