In 1994, Rwanda went through a traumatizing genocide. Twenty-four years have now passed and, unlike before, Rwanda has transformed into a beautiful and prospering country. For my independent project, I️ interviewed six students at the Nyamata Boarding High School and asked them about how they learn about the genocide in school.

• Vanessa; 16; 11th grade
• John; 16; 11th grade
• Diana; 18; 12th grade
• Tom; 19; 12th grade
• Moses; 17; 11th grade
• David; 16; 11th grade

Unlike America, the Rwandan genocide is more commonly talked about in the education system. The school teachers teach the students about the genocide in three different stages: causes, effects, and measures.

As a country, Rwanda’s history is what keeps them together. These students not only learn about the genocide in school, but they also learn the act of forgiveness and how to make certain something like this tragedy does not happen in the future.

When I️ was interviewing the students, I️ asked if they had any personal stories about the genocide. David told me a story about his grandmother, a victim of the genocide. “My grandmother had three out of four of her children during the genocide. A few months after the genocide ended a man came to her house and begged for her forgiveness because he killed one of her children. Shockingly my grandmother forgave him,” he told me.

After the genocide, Rwanda believed that reconciliation was key in order to move forward. Forgiveness is an initial step towards reconciliation. Even though these students weren’t alive during the time of the genocide, they talk about the aftermath and the plans for the future and how reconciliation is important.

These students are the future of Rwanda and there is no future without a past. Unlike people of other countries, people of Rwanda have realized that talking about the genocide is what will actually benefit them.