Raising Rwanda's Next Generation

Genocide does not stop once the killings end. Its effects are like those of an atomic bomb, annihilating people caught in its way and scarring those who managed to survive for generations into the future. Confronting life after genocide takes courage; it is a life without family, without parents, without your cherished children or wonderful grandparents, without uncles, aunties and cousins, a life without friends. And in this post-genocide reality, for new generations, finding an identity from such a chaotic past becomes critical. Claver's talk will focus on the challenges of parenting children in the post-genocide context and argues that Rwandans must face the past if they are to rebuild their lives and identities and raise the next generation in an environment of peace and tolerance. 30 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the urgency to consciously invest efforts in nurturing and humanly upbringing of Rwanda’s next generations is of great importance and should be critically promoted.

Claver works for the Aegis Trust and heads the Research, Documentation, and Policy Engagement (RDPE) department. Prior to his appointment as the head of RDPE, Claver led Aegis Trust’s Archive and Documentation Centre, which established the Genocide Archive of Rwanda (GAR) in December 2010. GAR encompasses both physical and digital archives, containing historical artifacts, photographs, reports, correspondences, and audio-visual testimonies about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

He also led the development of the Ubumuntu Digital Platform, an educational initiative dedicated to promoting peace through interactive learning and community engagement. This platform serves as a vital resource for educators, parents, and youth, empowering them to cultivate a culture of peace and instill positive values essential for the reconstruction of a resilient Rwanda.