Yolande Mukagasana's new e book, “Umurage w'Urubyiruko” (Legacy of the Youth), seeks to assist younger individuals higher perceive the historical past of the 1994 Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi, determine genocide ideology, and embrace values that promote unity and stop comparable atrocities.
The e book was launched on Friday, June 26, on the Kigali Public Library throughout an occasion attended by training officers, secondary college college students and leaders.
Talking through the occasion, Mukagasana, 72, stated the e book was impressed by her need to depart an enduring legacy for future generations.
“I as soon as fell and injured my shoulder. Once I struggled to drive afterwards, I believed I’d die earlier than sharing every little thing I needed my youngsters to know. That’s once I began writing,” Mukagasana stated.
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The Genocide survivor defined that the e book promotes love, patriotism and unity whereas warning younger individuals in opposition to genocide ideology, denial and all types of divisionism.
“I need to go away younger individuals a legacy of affection and educate them to reject something that promotes division. I had youngsters, however due to divisionism I now not have them. Younger individuals ought to dwell as brothers and sisters and by no means enable anybody to mislead them into embracing genocide ideology,” she stated.
Mukagasana's new e book explores Rwanda's values, historical past, the Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi, genocide ideology and denial, whereas equipping younger readers with data to determine and problem makes an attempt to distort historic information.
Mukagasana stated that Umurage w'Urubyiruko is the primary quantity in a deliberate collection, with subsequent volumes already in preparation.
She additionally thanked the Minister of Nationwide Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, for writing the foreword to e book.
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In the course of the occasion, Nelson Mbarushimana, Director Basic of Rwanda Fundamental Schooling Board (REB), stated the e book enhances current educating supplies utilized in faculties.
“Considered one of REB's duties is to develop curricula and educating supplies. This e book enhances the competency-based curriculum and the books we have already got on the Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi,” Mbarushimana stated.
He famous that the e book will assist learners perceive Rwanda's historical past, the components that led to the Genocide, and the significance of rejecting genocide ideology and all types of discrimination.
“Since in the present day's youth will lead Rwanda sooner or later, this e book will function a basis for academics and college students to higher perceive our historical past, strengthen patriotism, embrace laborious work, uphold good values and turn out to be accountable residents dedicated to creating their nation,” he stated.
Mbarushimana additionally stated that REB will distribute the e book to varsities throughout the nation to make sure it’s accessible to learners.
“We’re setting up a programme to make sure these books attain faculties so that each pupil below our duty can entry and profit from them,” he stated.
College students who attended the e book launch mirrored within the lession they learnt as a era born after the Genocide in opposition to the Tutsi.
Micomyiza Honoré, a Senior Six pupil at School Saint André, stated the e book answered many questions he had about Rwanda's historical past.
He stated one of many sections that stood out explains the Ten Hutu Commandments and the way they had been used to advertise ethnic hatred years earlier than the genocide.
“We talk about Ndi Umunyarwanda each week in school, however I didn’t totally perceive its which means till I learn this e book. It has helped me respect its significance, and I encourage fellow college students to learn it,” he stated.
“Individuals who deny the Genocide spend time finding out historical past with a view to distort it. As Rwandans, we should additionally learn and know our historical past in order that we will counter genocide denial, particularly on social media, utilizing information,” he stated.
Rachel Igirubuntu, a pupil at Kagarama Secondary College, stated the e book broadened her understanding of how hatred was systematically cultivated earlier than culminating within the Genocide that claimed a million lives.
“I realized concerning the cruelty that characterised the Genocide and the way Tutsi had been dehumanised, together with being in comparison with parasites that needed to be eradicated. I additionally realized concerning the Ten Hutu Commandments and the way they unfold hatred,” she stated.
She famous that the e book helps younger individuals perceive how genocide ideology develops over time, making it an vital instrument in stopping historical past from repeating itself.
“The ideology of hatred was unfold step by step. As younger individuals, we have to perceive the way it began and the way it operated in order that historical past by no means repeats itself. This e book is due to this fact crucial for our era,” she stated.
