It has been 30 years since this moment that forever changed the people of Rwanda.
IMMACULÉE ILIBAGIZA
Rwandan Genocide Survivor
I was home for Easter holiday and one morning, it was on Wednesday on April 7, 1994, my brother came to my room and gave me the news that the president of the country was killed that night.
The assassination triggered a nationwide genocide that lasted 100 days. Immaculée says she managed to survive hiding in a neighbor's bathroom and it was during that time she turned to prayer.
IMMACULÉE ILIBAGIZA
Rwandan Genocide Survivor
However, one time, they came to search for us, and that is when I turned to God. Outside, there was a group of 300-400 people, dressed in banana leaves, machetes, and they were searching a house of 4 bedrooms, so I thought my life was over. I saw them through the window of the bathroom. I saw that. I thought my life was over. It was really that time I genuinly turned to God.
According to the United Nations more than half a million people were killed, including some of Immaculée's family. But she says she was able to find peace and learn to forgive through her faith. And Immaculée has spent the last three decades promoting this message.
IMMACULÉE ILIBAGIZA
Rwandan Genocide Survivor
There is a lot we can never repair…we have caused other people. There's other things like you can never take away the pain you have caused. No one can bring me back my father, my mom, but the people I've forgiven, I truly forgave them. I also realize that they're human beings like me, like I can cause pain like that other person caused me pain. So I forgive them and really wishing them that they will just aknowledge the wrong they have done.
30 years later, the United Nations will mark the anniversary with different events through an interactive exhibition with the theme “Remember. Unite. Renew.” and it will include testimonies of survivors.
PA
TR: KG
