Rwandan scholars living in the United States have hailed strides made by the Government of Rwanda in different sectors including education and health. The remarks were made, on Liberation Day, during a virtual panel conversation held on Monday July 4, 2022 organised by Rwandan American Friends, a platform that brings together Americans of Rwandan descent and friends of Rwanda to highlight their contributions to the social and economic development of the United States and Rwanda. “Rwanda represents what it looks like to move in a direction that is conscious of caring for others and not leaving anyone behind, and I think the world has so much to learn from that and to see what is actually possible from a country that is small but mighty,” said Joanne Adebayo, Member of Board of Trustees at Dickson College in Pennsylvania. Bonifride Tuyishimire, a Biostatician in Rockville, Maryland, said that there is no limit to how far Rwanda can go. “Rwanda went through so much but after only 28 years, it’s a totally different country even in the midst of trauma caused by 1994 genocide effects. People were able to come together to rebuild the country by fostering unity,” she said. Rwanda Day, an inspiration Sharing his personal story on how he opened a school in Rwanda, Yohani Kayinamura, a professor of Chemistry at Florida State College, narrated how particular remarks of President Paul Kagame opened his eyes. “When I was a freshman in college, I remember attending Rwanda day during which President Kagame said something that got stuck with me ever since. He said that the leaders of Rwanda were building a foundation for us to keep building on through our various contributions and skills and knowledge,” he said. “It meant that we too, regardless of where we are, were invited to contribute to the development of the country. And this foundation is solid and unshakable. In the area of education, the foundation is undeniable,” he added. Kayinamura established a school ‘Bright Future Academy’ in Ruhango district after being inspired to contribute to the education sector. According to these scholars, the struggle of liberation may have had a starting date but it does not have an ending one. They called for fellow Rwandan Diaspora members and friends of Rwanda to continue strengthening the relationship between the two countries through exchanges in various areas including education, skills transfer, health, and business. “We welcome policymakers, heads of institutions and just people that are willing to listen, welcome our ideas, and put them where they are most beneficial to Rwandans,” added Kayinamura. Jean-Pierre Karegeye, a scholar in Interdisciplinary Genocide Study Centre, noted that Rwanda is transforming Genocide wounds into a resource for establishing a new contract of confidence and solidarity between Rwandans. “Liberation for me means changing paradigms, changing mind-set. I have been visiting Rwanda twice a year since 2001, but every time you go there it’s a new Rwanda. It’s like something new happens every second, and this shows you the transformation,” he said, adding that there is a lot going on in Rwanda in terms of technology among many changes in different sectors.
