Taking a Global Stand Against Genocide Ideology
A blog report on the conversation organized by LéO Africa Institute, and Global Shapers Community of the Kigali Hub and Kampala Hub
“Attitude is the biggest individual contribution towards feeling concerned with what’s happening during the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.” — Sandra Shenge
Why take a stand against genocide Ideology?
Part of the 23rd commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi, LéO Africa Institute, and Global Shapers Community of the Kigali Hub and Kampala Hub organized a conversation to engage young people in both Uganda and Rwanda to reflect on the role that each individual can play to fight genocide ideology. The event was expected to humanize and spark a continental conversation on the role that young people can play to prevent genocide from happening again.
Panelists in Kigali Louis-Antoine Muhire, Nelson Gashagaza and Sandra Shenge and Panelists in Kampala Ambassador Frank Mugambage and Patricia Twasiima challenged young people to get involved in being a channel of information to peers to spread information, de-campaigning the intentions of genocide and its ideology especially hate and any form of divisions.
It is our role and responsibility as young people to get involved and firmly take a stand against genocide ideologies because we are the backbone of the country and our potential could be misused.
“We tell our story answering to the question ‘why did we do this?’ in order to bring back humanity.” — Nelson Gashagaza
“The biggest lesson is respect for human values because that’s what we share despite differences in color, race and language. Societies prosper based on the values they promote and how they are passed on to next generations.” — Ambassador Frank Mugambage
“We need to engage the youth at a personal level, at an emotional level and have them think about the ways and solutions to fight against genocide ideology.” — Sandra Shenge
“We should hold each other accountable and call out people who still think that it is okay to kill somebody else simply because they are different,” — Patricia Twasiima
“Without Unity in Rwanda, what other options do we have? … it should be a personal commitment to fight genocide ideology on platforms we use.” — Louis-Antoine Muhire
Change starts with responsibility, Never Again is not a slogan, it is our responsibility.
