UPEACE students and staff plant a tree in commemoration of the Genocide
Students and staff at the United Nations-Mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), this April, joined the rest of the world to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Joined by people from 40 countries around the world, the UPEACE community in Costa Rica observed a moment of silence holding a lit candle as a symbol of resilience and solidarity with the Kwibuka (Remembrance) flame which is now burning in Kigali and across the world.
Sister Mumbua Simon of Kenya, a UPEACE student who helped officiate the ceremony held at the university campus in San José, Costa Rica told the participants that they should carry flame within their hearts.
Dr. Francisco Rojas Aravena, Rector of the University revealed that the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi has been a practice of the University for Peace through the years.
“UPEACE feels honored to be the host of this act of remembrance, Aravena said; noting that the Genocide was a devastating event for the Rwandans and humankind as a whole,”
Citing the statements of the UN Secretary General in 2013, the rector said that ‘the 1994 Genocide represents the most emblematic failure of UN and Member State action.’
“I would reaffirm that the mission of the University for Peace is exactly to educate and train people from around the world to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.” Aravena said.
In his testimony, a Rwanda student at UPEACE, Mucyo Mulinzi, also a Genocide witness, now a member of the International Peace and Conflict studies program said that he was grateful for the solidarity in remembering the victims but noted that while Rwanda went through the worst tragedy 20 years ago, the world watched and did nothing.
Quoting the words of President Paul Kagame made on April 7th in Kigali, Mulinzi said that Rwanda has come a long way from darkness but has chosen a unique path of dealing with the past- to take on reconciliation, forgiveness, resilience, courage, and unity.
Mulinzi urged the University community to ensure the lives of those lost are remembered through their activities and actions. “I hope and believe that together, we can create a future where Genocide never happens again in the world.” he said.
As part of the day’s commemoration events, the UPEACE community held reflective discussions on the Genocide, made a remembrance walk throughout the University campus, planted a tree that will stand in permanent memorial to the 20th Anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The selected tree (Corteza Amarilla) is also known for blossoming fully just once a year early in the month of April.
“We selected the tree that loves a lot of sunlight and blooms bright yellow, one of the colors of the Rwandan flag,” said Jaime Posa a student from U.S.A, who organized the planting.
At nightfall on April 7th, the University community gathered around a bonfire to observe a final act of commemoration- where students shared their understanding of the lessons learned from the Genocide and its aftermath; and also opted for the Never Again notion to Genocide.
Among the messages passed on from the youth at the bonfire, was of Julia
Coburn, UPEACE student from U.S.A she said: “The 1994 Genocide was an atrocity for so many reasons, but perhaps the greatest tragedy of them all is that it was avoidable. Today, I have come to realize that the history of the genocide belongs not just to Rwanda, but to all of us: to humanity. And so does the aftermath and our choice to confront tragedies and to seize opportunities for forgiveness.”