Employees of Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) and the teachers saving and credit cooperative, Umwalimu Sacco, took last Friday off to honour victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The event took place at the headquarters of both institutions in Remera, Gasabo District, also attracting representatives from the National Commission for the Fight against the Genocide (CNLG).

During the event, prayers were held and lectures delivered on how to engage the youth in fighting against the genocide ideology.

The Managing Director of Umwalimu Sacco, Joseph Museruka, called upon Rwandans to unite through the government’s reconciliation programme, also advising the youth to lead the way if Rwanda was to remain a peaceful and united country.

"We lost many people and among them were teachers and other minds who could actually have contributed to the development of this country. It is from that common understanding that we need to work even harder to ensure that we unite and work towards a common goal,” Museruka said.

The Chairman of the RDRC, Jean Sayinzoga, noted that a number of institutions were set up after the genocide to deal with its effects.

"It is time to focus on issues that will contribute towards rebuilding this country based on what we went through in the dark past,” he said, giving the example of the RDRC as one of the post-genocide institutions which were set up to deal with consequences of the genocide.

The body has been coordinating efforts to reintegrate ex-combatants back into the civilian life since the end of the genocide. It also provides former men and women in uniform with life and work skills to get them started into the new life as civilians.