First Lady Jeannette Kagame praised the resilience exhibited by widowed survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, saying their dedication to life helped to rebuild Rwanda after the tragedy.

The First Lady said this on Friday, June 14, as the association of Genocide widows, AVEGA-Agahozo, marked 30 years of resilience, in an event attended by government officials and hundreds of survivors at Kigali Convention Centre.

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The Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed more than one million lives, is the most tragic event in the history of Rwanda, yet the survivors did not accept to be held back by to its impact, she said.

Despite the tragic moments they went through during the Genocide and the difficult life in its aftermath, she said, the survivors did more than was expected of them, including forgiving the Genocide perpetrators, to contribute to the peace Rwanda enjoys today.

She also thanked them for raising the orphans, who are now serving the country in various ways.

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The Genocide survivors expressed their appreciation for the support by the First Family and the Government of Rwanda, including critical medical treatment, provision of shelter, and sociopsychological support.

They also expressed their appreciation for the RPA Inkotanyi, which stopped the Genocide.

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The First Lady said it was an honour to gather after 30 years to celebrate the resilience of the Genocide widows.

She thanked them for accepting the helping hand that was extended to them by the government and its partners and for continuing to exhibit the values of love and integrity.

The First Lady thanked the survivors who came up with the idea of founding AVEGA-Agahozo to comfort the Genocide widows. She recognised the association’s dedication to the betterment of the widows.

She promised members of AVEGA-Agahozo to continue supporting them in the coming years as they deal with the impacts of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

She said the heroic spirit of Genocide widows will continue to inspire generations to come.