The staff members of PricewaterhouseCoopers Rwanda Limited (PwC Rwanda) visited Kamonyi Memorial Center and paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. PwC is a network of firms in 158 countries with over 250,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. PwC's purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems.
Prior to the visit, and in order to remember, unite and renew, PwC Rwanda invited a survivor, Celine Uwineza to narrate her ordeal with staff at the PwC Rwanda office on 26 April 2019. As part of this event, staff had a chance to get a copy of the new book ‘Untamed’ which Celine signed with a personal note to each staff.
This was followed by a second event on Friday 3rd May 2019 where PwC Rwanda staff after laying wreaths at the Kamonyi Memorial Center visited families of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis residing in Bimba village, Runda sector in Kamonyi District.
Beneficiaries receiving mattresses.
Florence Gatome addressing the beneficiaries.
This visit was part of the 25th commemoration activities, which included observing a moment of silence at Kamonyi Memorial Center, spending time with families of survivors and providing food and mattresses to 13 families of genocide survivors in Runda sector as part of corporate social responsibility.
When the killings started, many Tutsis in the region got dispersed all over the country. Later, the Government through FARG built houses for the survivors in Bimba village in Kamonyi District.
While addressing those that attended the ceremony, Florence Gatome, The Country Senior Partner at PwC Rwanda said that they had not only come to join residents to remember brothers, sisters, parents and friends who perished in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi but also to give hope to the survivors.
"Rwanda is for all of us and whatever happened in the past will never happen again thanks to the Government that is committed to fighting Genocide ideology. As PwC Rwanda, we are today representing our East Market Region currently with staff drawn from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia and we decided to give back to the survivors as a sign of hope and unity.
She added that they will always be near to support the survivors and that the company will continue identifying and helping those in need as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Florence Gatome Country Senior Partner at PwC Rwanda lays a wreath at the momorial center.
Florence Gatome Country Senior Partner at PwC Rwanda signing the visitors book at the memorial center.
The representative of GAERG an association of Graduate genocide survivors Pascal Ndayambaje thanked PwC Rwanda for helping the families, acknowledging that the company has continuously responded with speed to the needs of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi survivors over the past years.
"PwC Rwanda came and told us about their plan to help survivors. We told them of the people in Kamonyi district who are living in houses built for them by FARG and identified their pressing needs. They accepted to help all the thirteen families with food and mattresses” said Ndayambaje.
He also thanked all those that attended the commemoration and also thanked the government for helping people that survived and those that lost their loved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Stafff members before laying wreaths on the graves.
Beneficiaries’ testimony
Kamazi John is 40 years old and in spite of his age, he still remembers the horrors of the Genocide against the Tutsis with strong emotions. He recalls the days when the killers started hunting them with machetes and guns.
With tears and a shaking voice he gives tales of how Tutsis were brutally murdered and thrown in pits and others dumped in Nyabarongo River.
"I remember how on the 15th of April, killers from Kigali were coming to give backup to the killers here and how blood and dead bodies were scattered everywhere. I survived by God’s grace because the killers were not sparing anybody be it children or babies” he narrated before breaking down in tears.
Florence Gatome hands over a donation to the memorial center.
Staff members of PwC a company visiting Kamonyi Memorial Center.
He thanked PwC Rwanda for remembering and visiting them. "We went through a lot of horrors to survive the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and to see that the Government of Rwanda together with these good Samaritans are giving us the reason to keep living is God’s doing” he added.
Since 2010, PwC Rwanda has long provided high-quality Audit & Assurance, Advisory and Tax services to both private companies and public organisations across a broad range of industry sectors in the country.
PwC Rwanda provides local understanding and support as well as regional expertise whilst observing international standards of excellence. The company strives to deliver a distinctive experience and to exceed clients’ expectations, every time.