Cogebanque Plc and Our Past Initiative, a youth-led organisation, on April 14, partnered in consoling survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in addition to paying community health insurance - Mutuelle de Santé – premiums for more than 130 and food to the most vulnerable people in Nduba sector, Gasabo District.

Cogebanque is a commercial bank licensed by the National Bank of Rwanda that started operations in 1999 and played a big role in rebuilding the country, a few years after the Genocide.

Our Past Initiative was established 12 years ago to teach the youth about genocide and strive to fight against genocide ideology and denial to ensure that it never happens again.

The activity to console Genocide survivors, which took place on Friday, April 14, is part of the 29th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Antoine Iyamuremye, the Head of Marketing and Product Development at Cogebanque, said: "We partnered with the youth’s non-governmental organisation called ‘Our Past’ so that we console and support vulnerable Genocide survivors. Consoling Genocide survivors plays a big role in restoring hope and building resilience. We stand together with Genocide survivors on this journey of renewing Rwanda and building resilience.”

‘We thank Cogebanque, our sponsor’

Christian Ntwali, the founder of Our Past Initiative, said that the activity also aims at sensitising parents to have meaningful conversations with the youth about the history of the Genocide while restoring their hope and building resilience.

"The youth have to put in more effort in rebuilding our country. And, therefore, we consoled vulnerable Genocide survivors in Nduba sector. We launched our commemoration activities as youth, on April 9, and are paying health insurance premiums for 50 families comprising 136 members, and providing food to 14 most vulnerable families as part of our activities. When people have good health it is a good foundation for them to strive for their development since they can work and earn a living. We thank Cogebanque, our sponsor,” he said.

Nduba is the second sector where they supported vulnerable Genocide survivors during the commemoration activities. They intend to carry out similar activities in seven sectors across the country during the 100 days of commemoration.

"We will play a role in renovating eight homes for vulnerable Genocide survivors, and promote easy access to clean water in their homes, among others,” he said.

Virginie Mukangarambe, a Genocide survivor from Nduba sector, welcomed the support saying it was timely.

She said: "Considering the current situation where prices have drastically increased, we have so many needs we could not satisfy on our own. I highly applaud the funding of our health insurance premiums because we were struggling to afford this. This additional support motivates us to work hard and fulfil other needs.”

Joseline Urayeneza, the officer in charge of social affairs in Nduba sector, lauded Cogebanque Plc and the youth-led initiative for encouraging and supporting Genocide survivors in the area.

"We are glad to have such partners in consoling vulnerable Genocide survivors. They had so many basic needs including unpaid health insurance premiums, food, and a lack of livestock. And, we also have three of them whose houses need renovation. This much-needed support helps survivors not to feel that they are all alone,” she said.