Varsity beauty queens, kings visit Ntarama Genocide memorial site

A group of beauty queens and kings from different universities in Rwanda, last week, visited Ntarama Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The team called ‘Smile Rwanda’ comprises Mr, Miss and their 1st runner-ups from their respective universities in the country. Roughly an hour’s drive from Kigali, Ntarama church in Bugesera District witnessed some of the most brutal killings during the Genocide against the Tutsi. The church was seen as a safe place by thousands of people, most of whom were women and children who sought refuge there. But the Interahamwe militia were determined to annihilate all Tutsi, it spared no one, not even babies.Belancille Uwitonze, a member of the National Commission for the fight against Genocide, told the delegation, led by the Guild President of the School of Finance and Banking (SFB), Steven Nankunda, that those killed from the church thought they would be safe, thinking that the killers would at least respect the church. The delegation toured different chambers of the memorial site where they were told how the tragedy unfolded, its effect and measures the government has put in place to rebuild the country to ensure that a similar tragedy never happens again.After the visit, the youth pledged to support the fight against genocide ideology amongst their colleagues and local communities to ensure that genocide never occurs again. “We are very ashamed of what our fellow youth did during that time. They used their energy to destroy the country. But we promise to use our youthful energy to re-establish our motherland,” Miss Umutara Polytechnic 2012, Pascale Ange Bukize, said at the site.She reminded the youth of the importance of the commemoration, challenging them to respect and work hard to develop the country.Bukize also commended the government for the great strides in rebuilding the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.After visiting Ntarama Genocide Memorial, ‘Smile Rwanda’ team visited two homes of Genocide survivors in Gatenga sector, Kicukiro District, where they donated food stuff, cooking oil, bars of laundry soap and toiletries. They also played with children before leaving.

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Varsity beauty queens, kings visit Ntarama Genocide memorial site