subject: Genocide Memorial Sites In Rwanda [print this page] The Rwandan genocide was the largest organized killing of human beings in today's history. It lasted for about a hundred days this was from the month of April to mid June in 1994.Those involved in planning the genocide included the Hutu militia groups, the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi. The massacre resulted in the deaths of over one million people, the survivors were traumatized and many children orphaned. There are different genocide memorial sites found where these killings took place. Camp Kigali memorial site is where the genocide begun. This is where the UN Belgian Blue Berets were murdered by presidential guard soldiers while at work guarding their ambassador.
The Nyamata genocide memorial site is located in Bugesera district a few kilometers from Kigali town. Many women and young children were massacred by the militia at Nyamata Catholic church where they had gone to seek refuge. Nyamata genocide was horrifying as nobody thought that the militia soldiers could destroy the place. Today, Nyamata Catholic church is no longer a place of worship, but rather a place where the survivors visit to remember their history. More than 5000 people, mostly children, women and elderly people were also killed inside the Ntarama Church. Their remains are still inside the church. As a result of this, Ntarama is also another genocide site.
In Murambi memorial center, about 40,000 people were massacred. These were Tutsis who had come to take refuge at the Murambi center following orders from their leaders. From this group only two people survived. They are now both employed as guards at the genocide site. Bisesero genocide memorial site is also referred to as the Hill of Resistance. It is on a mountainous region located about 31km from the lakeside town of Kibuye. Over 50,000 Bisesero heroes were killed and the place became a genocide memorial site. On the tenth anniversary of the Rwanda genocide, the Kigali Memorial Center was opened as an international historic and educational site.
The Rwanda Healing Project was launched in 2004 and deals with the grief caused by the genocide of 1994. This project offers; education, development and hope for the future to all the survivors who were traumatized by the genocide. The project has helped the survivors in various ways, such as; building latrines, starting of small businesses for example, weaving, sunflower oil production, sewing, health services, education for children, and tanks for rain water collection. This program is aimed at transforming the lives of the survivors and in the construction of the genocide memorial park. The genocide site is a reminder of the past killings, destruction and violence. The survivors on the other side are taught how to accept the past events. In addition, they are helped on development projects and on how to live a good life for a better future.
