Rwandan Genocide Memorial

If I had to put my experience at the Rwandan genocide Memorial into one word it would be this: humbling. In history classes, the subject of the Rwandan genocide is often skimmed over or not covered at all. Everything that I knew about the Rwandan genocide I learned from a small book that I read in my sophomore English class. In other words, I didn't know very much.

Before walking through the memorial and reading the stories of people who suffered I knew very little about the Rwandan genocide other than the fact that it happened. Now, however, just how personal and intimate the conflict was. I listened to and read the horrors that the people suffered and how they continue to affect them today.

Among these was the story of a woman whose entire family was murdered by the family that lived next to them. Her parents were murdered in front of their children by the people they considered to be their closest friends. Her neighbors then murdered her siblings as well. As she described her experience, she was in tears as she discussed how she now has an extremely difficult time trusting the people she calls her friends. There were many more stories that were similar to this one, and just as moving. I can’t even begin to imagine what that kind of betrayal would feel like and how hard it would be to move forward.

Along with these firsthand experiences of the genocide, was an exhibit dedicated entirely to the children lost in the genocide. Families gave the memorial their most recent pictures of the children that they had lost along with information about the child’s personality and how they died. There was a picture of a 15 month old baby who was hacked to death by machete along with countless other children who perished as victims of the genocide. This really drove home how intimate and personal the genocide was for the Rwandan people.

Despite the countless horrors inflicted during the Rwandan genocide, the country has turned their focus towards healing, forgiveness, and learning from the past. It was really amazing to see the stories of victims who talked about forgiving the people who had caused all of their suffering. These people talked about how the only way for the country to heal and move forward as a unified Rwanda was through forgiveness. The strength that this must take for victims to forgive the people who murdered their families and friends amazes and humbles me.

I also felt the spirit of healing promoted by the memorial in the exhibits that they have dedicated to other genocides throughout human history, including the Holocaust and the Cambodian genocide. The exhibits are dedicated to educating visitors on what genocide is and how it begins so that it can be avoided in the future. I found the exhibit to be very empowering and loved the focus placed on individuals to see those around us as human beings that are no different from us no matter what they look like or where they come from.

Walking through the Kigali Genocide Memorial was one of the most life-changing experiences that I have ever had, and I am inspired and humbled by the strength and spirit of the Rwandan people, and their focus on healing and moving forward as one Rwanda.

We were not allowed to take pictures inside the memorial, but there is a photo gallery and more information on the memorial website: https://www.kgm.rw/