Primary six students from Wisdom Instruction School in Rubavu District have come to understand the importance of learning their country’s true history as a way to help build a peaceful and united Rwanda, free from division.
During their educational visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial on June 1, 2025, the students were given an in-depth overview of Rwanda’s history, with a particular focus on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. They expressed shock at what they saw but also acknowledged the value of preserving history to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
Elia Hakizimana, the school’s headmaster, emphasized that teaching history to young children is a powerful foundation for fostering national unity and eradicating genocide ideology. He stated: “The aim was to ensure that children don’t see the Genocide as just a story in books, but that they truly understand it — that they see it, feel it, and grasp its significance. The way they understand it today will shape how they prevent it from ever happening again.”
Having gained a clearer understanding of Rwanda’s tragic past, the students pledged to be ambassadors of peace and reconciliation, and to fight against any form of division or hatred that could disrupt the country’s stability.
Nicole Ihirwe, one of the students, said: “We learned that history teaches us to love and protect our country. No child should ever again suffer because of their ethnicity. We are committed to promoting unity among Rwandans.”
Her classmate, Yvan Muhire, shared that his key takeaway was to uphold the values of humanity and mutual respect. “We will strive to become responsible leaders in the future, combatting hatred and division through peace and reconciliation.”
This visit highlights that teaching truthful history should not wait until children are older — it must start early. Teaching history must be seen as a tool for building the nation, safeguarding peace, and fighting evil through the power of truth.
