Sida donates Rfw7m to Kigali Memorial Centre

• Eight receive certificates in film making KIGALI - The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), on Saturday donated Rwf 7million to the Gisozi based Kigali Memorial Centre. “The partnership with Aegis Trust should be considered as Sweden’s contribution to the 15th Genocide commemoration,” said Sida’s Head of Mission in Rwanda, Richard Bomboma.He said Sweden is in partnership with the Government of Rwanda to promote reconciliation. Fifteen years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Aegis Trust organised a professional training for Rwandan teaching staff to tell the story through films, which will form part of the permanent education exposure in the country. Sida supported similar activities during the 10th Genocide commemoration by co-funding with the Clinton Foundation the completion of the Gisozi Memorial Site. The training programme helped to strengthen local expertise in documentation. It’s on this note that eight students received certificates in film making yesterday. “The films will provide a positive contribution to the recorded history of the Rwanda Genocide,” Bomboma said. He added that the training has also provided educators with an informative tool that can be used to combat the consequences of divisive ideology, and help to educate future generations. Professional Germany filmmaker Cornelia Reetz trained the students. Reetz told The New Times, that the idea of training was help young Rwandan students from the survivors association, Ibuka obtain professional skills in filming. Lighting, interviewing, sound, film editing and film production were among the technical skills students learnt during the training. “The training also provided a great opportunity for Rwanda’s young filmmakers to thoroughly exploit their skills,” said Reetz. “Video is a significant medium in which to represent Rwanda’s story, both to the rest of the world and to young Rwandans. That story and its lessons are best told by Rwandans with local knowledge and sensitivity,” says Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. Smith further emphasised that with material in Kinyarwanda, English and French, these films will highlight stories of rescue and courage, especially to local people. “They will be helping to play a significant role in the process of promoting justice, unity and reconciliation.” “Aegis Trust has been collaborating with Sweden since 2004, and the country has continued to collaborate with Rwanda in capacity building and promoting reconciliation,” said Freddy Mutanguha, Director of Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. Ends