When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi started 26 years ago, foreign countries turned their backs on Rwanda, and the massive killings were eventually stopped by our own RPA Inkotanyi.

During this COVID-19 era, where hundreds of thousands of people have died around the world, nations and individuals alike continue to donate resources to help people during these hard times.

However, the lockdown, granted for a good cause, has made so many things hard. Take the annual commemoration of the innocent lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, for example.

Genocide survivors, and people who lost their loved ones, find themselves confined at home, unable to visit memorial and grave sites as a way to honour and remember those who died. 

In order to prevent a feeling of loneliness and vulnerability, which can lead to trauma, people are urged to use technology to reach out to support groups for comfort.  

This can also be done via social media, and video calling, whereby they are comforted and counselled.

Many Rwandan youth use social media platforms. It is easy to get credible knowledge on what happened during the Genocide, as many survivors have shared and documented their testimonies, helping others understand what really happened, and assisting in the healing process for themselves too.

Those who don’t have access to social media in Rwanda use radio and television because there are various programmes that talk about the Genocide, how it was organised, put in action, and its prevention.

I personally thank the government for considering Rwandans’ health during these times, and urging us to honour those who died even under lockdown.

I advise my fellow citizens, especially the youth, to fight against genocide ideology and also respect the measures put in place by the government in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Stay home to stay safe.

The writer is a S5 student from LDK Secondary School