KIGALI - In observance of this year’s International Peace Day theme "Make Your Voice Heard”, 70 students from the Akilah Institute for Women, will hold a peace walk around Kigali City to promote peace, unity and non-violence amongst Rwandans.

Commonly referred to as ‘Peace Day’, the holiday, was established by a UN resolution in 1981 to provide an opportunity for individuals, organisations, and nations around the globe to create practical acts of peace on a shared date.

According to Carol Rugege, the director of admissions at the institute, Akilah students aim to set a positive example among fellow Rwandans, especially the youth, inspiring others to spread peace and goodwill and continue to build a culture of harmony.

According to a statement, the students will on Wednesday September 21, gather at Rwanda Development Board offices and walk to the Kacyiru roundabout near KBC. 

The walk will begin at 12:30pm at RDB; and at 13:00, students and Akilah staff will join other citizens around the roundabout to join the world in a Minute of Silence, that will be held globally in observance of world peace.

Florence Mukundwa, a Hospitality Management Diploma student at the institute, described the day as important to Rwandans saying that it signifies the existence of peace in the country.

"Rwanda was once a place where peace was nonexistent. Seventeen years later, Rwanda is a brand new country, full of opportunities and demonstrating an impressive track record of peace and unity,” she said.

"There are many achievements in the areas of infrastructure, universal primary education, and good governance; above them all, however, is the record of peace Rwandans now enjoy. We want to come together to celebrate and sustain it.”

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