We For Help Members Urged to Champion Unity and Fight Genocide Ideology

Members of the We For Help Organization gathered on June 15, 2025, in the Mutete Sector, Gicumbi District, to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 

The solemn event, which was held at Mutete Memorial, where 1,096 genocide victims are laid to rest, served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action for Rwanda’s youth.

Addressing the gathering, Deogratias MWANAFUNZI, Executive Secretary of Mutete Sector, traced the roots of Rwanda’s dark history back to colonial rule, particularly the Belgian administration which institutionalized ethnic divisions. He paid tribute to the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) for ending the genocide and liberating the nation.

“Rwanda was on the brink of death but was revived by brave men and women,” Mwanafunzi said. “Imagine what would have happened had there been no Rwandan hands to stop the Genocide, while the world stood by and watched.”

He urged the youth—who make up the majority of We For Help members—to embrace remembrance, uphold unity, commit to hard work, and actively resist genocide ideology.

“If we don’t take our hands out of our pockets and work, we will be sacrificed without any sacrifice. Our descendants will ask us why we chose cowardice,” he warned.

Maurice UMUFASHA, President of We For Help, commended the government’s efforts in rebuilding the country and fostering national unity. He called on fellow youth to be guardians of truth and remembrance.

“We all as youth have a role to play in fighting those who deny and belittle the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” Umufasha said.

“Let’s work together to uproot genocide ideology and build a Rwanda free from division.”

Alphonsine Mukarukundo, President of Ibuka in Mutete Sector, stressed the vital role of remembrance in educating future generations.

“We remember because we have a responsibility to fight for the truth,” she said. “This is why remembrance must live on—so that even the young can learn about the genocide, understand its consequences, and commit to eradicating its ideology.”

She challenged young people to embody the values of unity, resilience, and social cohesion, noting that youth make up the majority of Rwanda’s population and therefore hold the key to safeguarding the nation’s future.

The event formed part of Rwanda’s official 100-day commemoration period, observed nationwide and internationally, to honor the more than one million lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Founded in October 2020, We For Help is a youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through education, mentorship, and essential support. With over 100 committed members, the group is driven by a mission to break the cycle of poverty and foster hope among vulnerable communities.

As Rwanda continues to heal and rebuild, events like this one in Mutete serve as a reminder that the path to a united and resilient nation is paved through remembrance, truth-telling, and collective action.