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LIFE FOR SURVIVORS
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The Legacy of Genocide
Thousands of women and girls, Supporting Widows
raped and infected with HIV in a
deliberate campaign of the genocide, Women suffered terribly during the
continue to die of AIDS because genocide, particularly because sexual
they cannot afford the antiretroviral violence was used as a weapon of
medication they need to keep them war. Many women were widowed as
alive. men were targeted for killing.
Chased, beaten, brutalised, maimed
No major institutions have come and raped, after the genocide
forward to support survivors - for the women are still struggling to rebuild
most part they have been expected their shattered lives. They live in
to pick up their lives since the poverty and until they find some
genocide and carry on as normal. economic security, they remain
But this has been impossible to do. utterly dependent upon government
From 1994 to 2005, the Rwandan or charitable aid in every aspect
‘I only have to look at Government put 5% of its national of their lives. This destroys their
confidence and self esteem.
myself in the mirror to see budget into a Rwandan Government
the legacy of the genocide’ Fund for Survivors (FARG) which
assisted survivors with school fees, Survivors Fund helps women in
Daphrose, survivor of genocide healthcare and housing. a number of ways. For example
it provides grants for income
Around 360,000 people, Organisations such as Survivors generation projects, such as for
predominantly women and children, Fund (www.survivors-fund.org.uk) farmyard animals. The animals
survived the genocide in Rwanda. continue to help survivors to rebuild provide food, (such as eggs from
The majority of these widows and their lives. chickens and milk from goats) and
orphans now live in desperate can be taken to market and sold
poverty and lack proper shelter,
education and the means to earn
money to buy basic necessities
such as medicine and food. Many
are still severely traumatised by their
experiences of genocide, and feel
guilty that they survived when their
loved ones died. They often live with
painful physical wounds from the
genocide such as machete scars.
‘I was a child, only years
old when the killers struck.
Today I am 23 years old. I
am suffering still from the
cuts on my face and neck.
What hope or future do I
have?’
AVEGA Eastern Region is an organisation founded and run by widows of
Ange, survivor of genocide the genocide to help widows cope with life after the genocide.
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The Legacy of Genocide (continued)
when money is needed. Women
often participate in income generation
projects together, and this reduces
isolation as they form friendships
with those who have had similar
experiences to their own.
Trauma is a problem for survivors,
made worse by the fact that there
are so few trained counsellors in
Rwanda. Survivors Fund’s partner
organisations, led by survivors, teach
survivors how to listen to each other
and help each other deal with their
problems.
Supporting Orphans
Of all survivors, the most needy are
children. Many are orphans who have The Humura Centre will enable survivors to give their testimonies in a
been left with no adult figure to love holistic programme and will ensure that their memories are properly
or guide them. and accurately recorded at the same time as providing the psychological
support so vital when recalling this traumatic past.
Children and orphans are often left to
fend for themselves. They are forced
to quit school, join the workforce, parents die and face the possibility Many children have no inheritance
and care for younger brothers and that they too could be infected. But from parents - neither money nor
sisters. Often they are caregivers, many are too scared to get tested, land; they have to fend for their
sometimes to more than ten siblings. do not understand why they are ill, own basic needs, including finding
or are unaware that they have been shelter for their brothers and sisters.
260,000 children have been at risk. SURF helps by working with local
orphaned in Rwanda through HIV/ communities to acquire land rights,
AIDS, many forced to watch their and builds and renovates houses for
orphan families.
Memory
Abandoned by the world in 1994,
survivors fear that the world will
lose interest and forget about the
genocide. For them, sustaining
the memory of the genocide is an
important way of remembering loved
ones who were killed and can no
longer tell their stories.
Survivors of the genocide gather at the memorial at Bisesero, a site Survivors want to remind the rest
which contains the remains of 75,000 victims. There were 43,00 people of the world of the devastating
killed at Bisesero. consequences of crimes against
humanity and why they must never
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The Legacy of Genocide (continued)
be allowed to happen again. They
actively ‘remember’ the genocide in a
number of ways such as by recording
their testimonies, leaving some
remains of victims on open display
at massacre sites, and building and
visiting memorials. All these things
are incontestable proof that the
genocide happened.
Many women and girls raped
during the genocide and dying of
AIDS want to leave their stories for
their children once they are gone.
The skulls of those killed in the church and surrounding grounds at Survivors Fund helps survivors to
Ntarama, where 5,000 people lost their lives. record their testimonies, which are
also firsthand eyewitness historical
accounts of genocide. Talking about
their experiences to other people is a
difficult process, especially because
issues such as rape are stigmatised,
and because of a culture where
talking about problems is seen as a
sign of weakness. But talking and
sharing experiences has helped
survivors to begin to heal painful
emotional wounds.
Kamonyi Memorial in Gitarama: 45,000 victims buried.
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Survivors and Justice
‘Most of the people who killed my family family. What justice is there for my family? They
crossed to Congo, but the man who killed my continue to live with the legacy of genocide.’
father, known as Concorde, is still living in the
community. He confessed in gacaca courts Ange, Rwandan survivor
aged 11 at the time of genocide
to killing my father. He still has a life and a
After the genocide, over 130,000 are plans to transfer the trials of some impossible to hear all the cases of
people were detained on suspicion of the accused to other countries, the thousands of prisoners awaiting
of having organized or taken part in including Rwanda, but the time limits trial in the conventional justice system
the genocide in Rwanda. At the same on the existence of the ICTR mean in Rwanda and at the ICTR. And
time, the Rwandan government has that many people guilty of genocide so while the most serious cases of
encouraged its citizens to engage will not have to face justice for their genocide are heard at Arusha, since
in reconciliation, and to live together actions. 2003 many thousands of prisoners
in peace to help rebuild Rwanda have been released and are now
- shattered by genocide and years The ICTR, like other war crimes being tried in gacaca courts - a
of civil war. But for survivors to move tribunals, has no police force of reworking of the traditional Rwandan
forward with their lives, justice must its own and relies on national community conflict resolution system.
come before reconciliation. This governments around the world to This has meant that survivors have to
means that perpetrators must admit arrest or capture those indicted. endure living side by side with killers
to and take responsibility for what Yet many accused perpetrators and rapists.
they did. of war crimes in Rwanda and
other countries such as the former Prisoners sign an admission of guilt
The International Criminal Yugoslavia remain at large; this before they are released, and as half
brings into question the commitment of the sentence given out at gacaca
Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) of other countries to bring them to is community service, the fact that
The International Criminal Tribunal for justice. prisoners have already spent time in
Rwanda was set up by the United prison means that in effect many are
Nations in 1994 in Arusha, Tanzania Compensation for now free. Some perpetrators have
(close to the border with Rwanda) to also only admitted enough to secure
Survivors their release - hiding the rest of their
try those accused of genocide. Trials
started in late 1996 but a backlog While Arusha prisoners receive three crimes.
quickly formed as there were so meals a day and free antiretroviral
many cases to be heard. drugs if they are HIV positive, Survivors can testify against the
survivors struggle to feed themselves accused in the gacaca courts,
The most serious cases of genocide; and many are dying of AIDS because but there is no adequate witness
those involving planning and they have no access to antiretroviral protection programme; survivors
orchestrating killings, are heard at the medication. These are reasons why are increasingly being intimidated,
ICTR. Yet despite a staff of 800, and survivors feel forgotten and why assaulted and their property
having spent well over half a billion many are demanding compensation. damaged because of testifying
dollars so far, the ICTR had only Money will never replace the family as witnesses. In a few instances
convicted 24 individuals of genocide they have lost, nor will it heal their survivors have even been killed so
by June 2006. trauma overnight; but it would at that they don’t give evidence. Many
least alleviate the poverty genocide survivors do not see gacaca as a way
And whilst 19 individuals indicted has caused, giving survivors a of delivering true justice, although it
(formally accused) by the ICTR have chance to rebuild their lives. has provided a way of finally finding
not yet been apprehended, there out the truth about how and where
is already a timetable to wind up Gacaca Courts their loved ones were killed.
proceedings in Arusha: trials will
conclude by the end of 2008 and The Rwandan Government and the
appeals by the end of 2010. There ICTR soon realised that it would be
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LIFE FOR SURVIVORS
Activity
‘I just survive somehow’
1. Read what Daphrose / Simeon
/ Cassien / Ange - a survivor of
genocide - has to say about his/her
life since the genocide in 1994.
a) Make a list of the problems that
he/she faces in rebuilding his/her
life after genocide.
b) Has he/she received any help to
solve his/her problems? Has he/
she found any solutions or coping
mechanisms of his/her own?
Daphrose Mukangarambe
lost her five children
and her husband in the
was fortunate in being able to get an We found many bodies. I can’t get
genocide. Of her entire operation on my jaw. over the grief and sorrow of losing my
immediate family, only her children. I try not to think about my
nephew survived. One of eyes still damaged and life because it hurts so much. I only
I cannot see with it. I still have have to look at myself in the mirror
Ruhango School, where Daphrose problems with my lower jaw, but I am to see the legacy of the genocide.
and her family were sheltering, was slowly beginning to hear again. The scars on my face and neck and
attacked. She managed to escape the scars in my heart are a daily
but was caught whilst hiding in a I live now on the AVEGA estate reminder to me of what happened.
banana plantation. She almost died in Nyagasambu. Joining AVEGA
of machete wounds at the hands of has helped me a great deal because Despite all my problems though,
the interahamwe, but was helped by I now realise that I am not alone I have survived. I have AVEGA to
local Twas and the RPF. Her family in enduring the consequences thank. Giving me a house was the
were not as lucky. of genocide. I must live with the best gift. Whether I am sad, hungry,
damage, and by accepting my new sick or grieving I have a safe and
“The RPF took me to hospital, where circumstances I will live longer. secure space where I can put my
I weighed just 29kgs, so thin that head down and cry. But I know I am
I looked no older than a nine old. Recently released gacaca prisoners not alone and I thank God that I
Fellow survivors saw to it that I who confessed to killing in my have made it this far.”
received food and soon I started hometown told me where they
to learn to walk again. My nephew buried my two older children.
stayed with me in hospital; he gave
me shelter. Though I had to rely
on big sticks to move around. But
I managed in time to gain weight.
But I still could not chew hard, but I
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Activity
‘I just survive somehow’ (continued)
Siméon Karamaga fought
in the resistance at
Bisesero, but lost his wife
and eight children in the
genocide.
Siméon was second-in-command
in the armed resistance of Bisesero
as the local community staved off
attack for two months before the
French belatedly arrived to provide
protection. Alas, for many, the help
came too late ...
“Prior to the genocide, Abasesero
was full of strong men. The few men
who remain today will die of sorrow.
We cannot foresee the future of
Bisesero. Communal houses were kill us, even now. In early 1997 the We have a memorial site, but it is
built for us and we were given a cow militiamen killed survivors. They were unfinished. Meanwhile we keep the
to begin our lives, but we have no killed by machetes, just like in April skeleton and bones of our families
families, no children, no wives to 1994. We lost all faith in life. in a hut made of iron sheets.
have children with so that we can
carry on the name of Abasesero. We After genocide everything is a We clean them and use a special
no longer have the numbers to feel struggle. I am disabled due to the chemical to preserve them. The
safe. genocide. I just survive somehow. I keepers of our memorials are our
spend my days grazing the one cow people. One is my younger brother
We have tried to accept that our life I still own, getting soaked when it and two sons of my older brother. At
will be difficult. Butwhat hurts us rains. I see no new beginning, or least we have that, our remains to
deeply that the militiamen want to end. That’s my life. visit.
But Bisesero is still Bisesero. Our
aggressors are still frightened of us,
they don’t attack or kill survivors
easily. Although they killed many
of us, we who survived still protect
each other.”
The memorial to the genocide victims at Bisesero.
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Activity
‘I just survive somehow’ (continued)
Cassien Mbanda was just
ten years old at the time
of the genocide, and at
school in Primary 3.
Cassien was one of four children and
lived with his parents in Kigali. At the
time of the genocide, he was staying
with his maternal grandmother in
Bicumbi, and managed to escape by
hiding in swamps and bushes then
pretending to be Hutu but was
seriously injured.
“I started attending school when one
day two European women came for
children who were severely ill. They
took us to a nunnery at Byumba,
from where we travelled to Kampala take any addresses of my friends and Before the genocide I was happy,
and then on to Italy. have not heard from anyone since. but now I am worried about life. As
It still hurts that all the preparations FARG can no longer support us, how
I was put in a military hospital. After were done without my knowledge. do I pay school fees for my siblings?
three months, I was taken to another I don’t have a job, but what can I do
orphanage with Rwandan children. I was happy to see my aunt and with no skills?
Altogether I was there for almost my surviving siblings, who had
year, by which time I could speak begun to attend school thanks to Sometimes I feel angry for being
fluent Italian. I returned to school the Government Fund for Survivors returned to Rwanda and missing
at the orphanage and completed (FARG) who paid their fees. out on an incredible opportunity to
primary education. rebuild my life. But I also feel happy
One day I started to get headaches. to be back in Rwanda and at home,
The turning happened one Friday I couldn’t read or concentrate, and having been able to find my siblings
afternoon. Someone told me that I despite painkillers the headaches and just to be there for them.”
was due to return to Rwanda. wouldn’t go away and I had to drop
out of school. I wished I could go
I was told my aunt had survived they back to the doctors who treated me
had found her. Part of me was happy in Italy because they knew how to
and wanted to go back Rwanda. But help.
it happened so suddenly I didn’t even
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Activity
‘I just survive somehow’ (continued)
“After the genocide I began
suffering severe head-
aches, and was admitted
to hospital where I spent 5
months.
When I came out of hospital, a widow
who had lost her children invited me
to stay with her in Kigali. I tried to
return to school but I could not cope.
I decided to do a catering course,
which I have now completed.
Meanwhile I found out that my three
siblings had survived, and were living
in Cyangugu. The Government Fund
for Survivors (FARG) pays the school
fees of of my siblings, but my elder
brother has turned to drinking and health is continuing to get worse. I I was tested and found to be HIV
dropped out of school. am anxious about getting a proper positive. The only way this could
job to enable me to get a house and have happened is through rape.
Before the genocide life to us. I bring my siblings to live with me. I was a child, only 11 years old
always told mother everything. She when the killers struck. Today I
was there me, always. Now I am on Most of those who killed my family, am 23 years old. I am suffering still
my own. I can’t even afford to look fled to Congo after the genocide. from the cuts on my face and neck.
after my siblings. Life is very hard and But the man who killed my father, What hope or future do I have?”
unpredictable and I worry about the known as Concorde, still lives in
future. the community. He confessed in
gacaca courts to the crime. He still
I have been disabled by the has a life and a family. How is that
genocide. Headaches continue to justice?
bother me. The left side of my face is
still numb, and I black out often. I heard about Solace Ministries and
went to see them. They have tried
I am told there is a problem with to help me cope with my situation.
and Rwanda has no means to me. Recently when I was feeling unwell,
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Activity
Justice and Forgiveness
Look at part of a speech by
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame,
and at the extracts from survivors
talking about justice and forgiveness
after the genocide.
Discussion
1. Do you think it is easier to ask for
forgiveness than to be asked?
2. Who should decide when it is time
to forgive? Valentina Izabagiza was when Siméon Karamaga
genocide ravaged Rwanda. She
3. Which of the following do you think and her family hid in a Catholic
would help survivors and other Church after the killing started. The militiamen did not lose a thing
people in Rwanda to live in peace during the genocide but they are
and move on with their lives in a the ones who receive all the help.
positive way? ‘I went to Arusha to testify at the
Everyone who has returned from
• Remembering; International Criminal Tribunal for
Zaire or Tanzania must go to the
• Forgetting; Rwanda (ICTR), where I could see
office in the relevant sector to collect
• Forgiving; Gatcumbitsi the mayor of Nyarubuye.
goods and materials such as plates,
• Delivering justice to victims and I knew him but of course he didn’t
blankets, cups etc. Some white
survivors; know me. He looked fat and healthy
people even came along to check
• Offering compensation to and he wore a smart suit with a tie,
that everyone had received the
survivors and victims’ families. and he looked contented. I was
necessary utensils. As for us, no one
terrified, and then I felt very angry.
came to check on us ....
4. What factors do you think That gave me the courage to speak
influence people’s ability to forgive? and tell my story. He didn’t seem
Those who came to kill in Bisesero
remotely concerned at what I had
have never been punished. They
5. ‘Seeking reconciliation without to say. Then his lawyer asked me
were pardoned. We still see them
justice risks seeing history repeat questions which made me both
around and fear that they will try to
itself’.1 What do you think this scared and furious. What right had
kill us again one day. Apparently they
means? Can you think of any they to question my credibility in this
are supposed to have confessed to
examples in the world of where this way, after what I had suffered? My
killings, but they have never asked
is the case? testimony at the International Criminal
us for forgiveness or confessed to
Court brought me no relief. All it did
us. Do you believe that they are
was make me relive the horrors of
not unhappy and ready to finish the
Nyarabuye church.’
business they started? If someone
‘The survivors of the genocide Valentina, survivor asks for forgiveness you forgive
are the heroes of our time! Asking aged 11 at the time of genocide them, but if they are not prepared
them to forgive those that wiped to confess openly and ask for
out their entire families is to ask (In 2004 Sylvestre Gatcumbitsi was forgiveness, what can make us feel
them to swallow a bitter pill. We sentenced to 30 years imprisonment confident that they won’t try to kill us
are conscious of this, but for the for organising the slaughter of 20,000 again?
sake of nation building, we have no people during the genocide. He
alternative.’ also distributed weapons and urged Apart from the released prisoners,
Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaking at Hutus to kill Tutsis and rape Tutsi security in our area has improved.
genocide commemoration in Rwanda in 2004 women.) Soldiers were protecting us in the
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Justice and Forgiveness (continued)
past, but they have now left. Bisesero
is still Bisesero. Our aggressors are
still frightened of us; they don’t attack
or kill survivors easily. Although they
killed many of us, we who survived
still protect each other.
As for reconciliation, we do not
feel that we can be reconciled with
people who have killed members of
our families and who will persist in
trying to kill us. All we want to hear Daphrose Mukangarambe
is the officials say that they have
finished punishing the genocide
criminals. ‘Our neighbours didn’t really need us
back. They had lived well and profited
We stay on our hill and we do not from us being away. Many looted our
prevent anyone from living their lives property, both the bar and the home.
the way they want to. Someone has Just after the genocide, interahamwe
to tell us exactly what we have to do that had not fled tried to kill us with
to be reconciled. Do we have to offer a grenade so that we would not be
beer to the militia to show that we are able to pursue justice. A grenade
reconciled or do we give our cows, was thrown into my room but it
which is a sign of friendship, to the exploded narrowly missing me. We
genocidal killers? They are the ones had to move away from our home,
who cannot bear the fact that we because we were still in danger. We
are still alive. I have put all my trust survived, but they are not happy we
in God, all that I have left, because I are still here. They were sure we had
am still a Christian. But ultimately we to die. They refused to hide us, but
need justice.’ we survived. They must live with their
Siméon, survivor guilt.’
aged 50 at the time of genocide
Daphrose, survivor of genocide
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Resource
Punishing the Crime of Genocide
During the Rwandan genocide, the orders to Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda remain at large.
kill came from the highest political level; from Tens of individuals, including one woman and
ministers, the Presidential Guard and Rwandan a number of high ranking military officials, are
army soldiers, well respected figure heads either awaiting trial or have trials in progress at
including many local governors and academics, the ICTR. But only a handful, 24 people by June
and even some religious figures. Many of those 2006, have been convicted of genocide crimes;
wanted for genocide crimes by the International some of these are detailed below.
Punishment under the by the ICTR and sentenced to 10 Consolata Mukangango
Genocide Convention years imprisonment. During the and Julienne Mukabutera
genocide Ntakirutimana encouraged
Article Three of the United Nations and took part in murders; notably - Benedictine Nuns
Convention on the Prevention on the 16th April 1994 he brought a Consolata Mukangango (Sister
and Punishment of the Crime of group of armed militia to his church Gertrude) and Julienne Mukabutera
Genocide states that the following compound where Tutsis were (Sister Maria Kisito) were based
are punishable: sheltering. Many hundreds of Tutsis at the Sovu Convent in Butare at
and a number of moderate Hutus the time of the genocide; Sister
a) Genocide; were subsequently killed by the Gertrude was the Mother Superior.
b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; militia. In 2001, a Belgium court found both
c) Direct and public incitement to Benedictine nuns guilty of having
commit genocide; Jean Kambanda - Prime participated in the massacre of more
d) Attempt to commit genocide; than 7600 people at the convent,
e) Complicity in genocide. Minister
Sister Gertrude was sentenced to 15
Jean Kambanda became Prime years imprisonment and Sister Kisito
Jean-Paul Akayesu - Mayor Minister of Rwanda’s caretaker to 12 years.
government after the death of
Until a landmark legal decision in President Habyarimana in the plane On the 22nd April alone, more than
1998, the acts of rape and sexual crash of April 7th. He became the 7000 people, mostly Tutsis were
violence which took place during the first head of a government to plead killed at the Sovu Convent; many
genocide went largely untold and guilty to the charge of genocide. In were burned alive in the garage of
unpunished. But in 1998 Jean-Paul 1998 Kambanda was found guilty of the convent as they attempted to
Akayesu, former mayor of Taba, a number of genocide crimes and hide from Hutu militia. Both nuns
was convicted and sentenced to was condemned to life imprisonment brought jerry cans of petrol to start
life imprisonment at the ITCR for by the ICTR, becoming the first the fire and Sister Kisito poured petrol
genocide, crimes against humanity, person to be sentenced with the over the building and set it alight.
and rape and encouraging sexual crime of genocide since the adoption In July 1994 the nuns left Rwanda
violence. This was the first time of the Genocide Convention in 1948. and were transferred to a convent in
that rape was found to be an act of
Belgium via the Democratic Republic
genocide when committed with the During the genocide, not only did of Congo and France.
intention of destroying a particular Kambanda fail to use his authority
group. as Prime Minister to stop genocidal
killings which he knew were taking
Elizaphan Ntakirutimana place, but he supported calls
- Pastor broadcast on the radio urging Hutus
to go out and kill, and distributed
Elizaphan Ntakirutimana was a weapons and ammunition to militia
Pastor of a Seventh Day Adventist fully knowing the purpose for which
Church at the time of genocide. In they were to be used.
2003 he was found guilty of genocide
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LIFE FOR SURVIVORS
Teacher’s Notes
Teacher’s Notes
A. This topic, Life for Survivors, relates to the D. Discussion Pointers for Activities
following areas of the National Citizenship
Curriculum for England for KS3 and KS4: I Just Survive Somehow
This activity lets students understand the lives of
• The legal and human rights and responsibilities survivors through their eyes. Students could work in
underpinning society, and how they relate to pairs or groups to read through the stories, and then
citizens. feedback to the whole class. When students write the
• The world as a global community, and the political, list of problems, encourage them to look for emotional
economic, environmental and social implications ones such as loneliness and fear as well as the more
of this, and the role of the European Union, the obvious practical ones such as lack of food. Asking
Commonwealth and the United Nations. students to identify survivors’ own coping mechanisms
• Researching a political, spiritual, moral, social or and solutions discourages them from seeing survivors
cultural issue. as passive victims, but rather people who, despite their
• Using one’s imagination to consider other people’s incredibly difficult circumstances, are trying to help
experiences and be able to think about, express, themselves.
explain and critically evaluate views that are not ones
own. Justice and Forgiveness
• The importance of resolving conflict fairly. As a follow on to the discussion generated by this
activity, students could research how other countries
have approached the issues of justice, forgiveness,
B. Learning Objectives of the Life for Survivors healing and nation building after conflict or adversity.
Module: What methods have they employed? How successful
do students think they have been? (Countries could
1. Empathise with the experiences of survivors through include South Africa, Sierra Leone and Northern
their firsthand testimony as they rebuild their lives Ireland.) Do students think it is possible to compare
after genocide. rebuilding a country after genocide to rebuilding a
country after civil war or apartheid?
2. Consider the roles of justice and forgiveness in
rebuilding a nation after genocide.
3. Understand the need to remember what happened
in Rwanda to prevent future crimes against
humanity.
C. Contents of the Life for Survivors Resource:
• The Legacy of Genocide - information
• Survivors and Justice - information
• I Just Survive Somehow - activity
• Justice and Forgiveness - activity
• Punishing Genocide - resource
last updated: February 2007
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