As Rwandans commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, members of Deloitte, a world renowned consultancy firm, Friday, visited Nyanza Memorial site in Kicukiro to pay tribute to the 11,000 men, women and children buried there. 

The visit was marked by a minute of silence and the laying of wreaths.

Deloitte employee, Winny Camarade, said commemoration was important in order to honour and value the victims.

"As young people, we remember the history of what happened through the survivors’ testimonies. We do not commemorate only, but we also visit survivors to appraise their living conditions and support them,” she noted. 

"Our commemoration must be designed specifically to amplify the survivors’ voices. We must not remain silent but we have to stand up to honor and value the slaughtered innocent and care the genocide survivors in order to improve their wellbeing and healing”, she ended.

Emmanuel Rwigamba, another Deloitte employee, said during the commemoration period, they approach Genocide survivors to eradicate their loneliness, sympathize and encourage them to strive for resilience.

Following the remembrance ceremony in Nyanza, the employees visited Genocide survivors living in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District.

The survivors, represented by Albert Musabyimana, the President of Peace and Hope Initiative, warmly welcomed the employees, saying such visits make them feel stronger and less lonely.

"We become confident because we know there are people who bear our hearts. We have many vulnerable old Genocide survivors in this village. Some are living with disabilities and others are too old to do anything. The support will help them in their daily lives effectively and minimize trauma because vulnerability also can cause trauma”, Musabyimana said.

Kabarenzi Leocadia, 67, said she was very happy to receive the visitors.

"It is difficult for me to express my happiness. I only raise my hands up to praise God. During commemoration period, sorrow burdens us. When we welcome a great number of people like this, we become strong. I congratulate these children of mine who have visited us. I also thank our president, Paul Kagame, for what he did and is still doing for us.” Kabarenzi said.

Approximate 500 genocide survivors live in Kinyinya Sector.