They voiced the appreciation as the leading beverage manufacturer in Rwanda commemorated for the 28th time, former employees slain during the Genocide against Tutsi.

During the event, employees of Bralirwa laid wreaths at the memorial monument of 18 colleagues slain during Genocide against Tutsi in Rubavu and visited ‘Commune Rouge’ Memorial where 5206 Tutsis are laid to rest. These victims include former employees of Bralirwa.

Concorde Munyazesa representing families of former employees of Bralirwa, thanked the brewery for having supported their education and business idea.

“We thank Bralirwa from the bottom of our hearts for having taken the right decision to take care of orphans and widows of its former employees. We were comforted and received support to pursue education during trying times. We even received more support from Bralirwa after graduation depending on our conditions of living which also funded our project to produce food stuffs,” he said.

Munyazesa also requested the plant to offer job opportunities to children born to former employees and extend support to healthcare services.

The Human Resource Manager at Bralirwa, Laëtitia Uwera said that they have helped Genocide orphans to pursue education so that they can stand chance to get jobs.

“Bralirwa has introduced a program to support the education of children born to former employees killed during Genocide against Tutsi because we are convinced that a person educated up to the university gets chance for a job and cater for his/her needs.

We have the responsibility to help the country’s resilience within available means through a contribution to build capacity of our employees and supporting activities aimed at impacting communities surrounding our operations,” she said.

The Mayor of Rubavu District, Ildephonse Kambogo commended Bralirwa for support extended to families of its former employees and assured support to preserve history.

“The district voices appreciation to Bralirwa for making possible efforts to support surviving families of its former employees and having dedicated a day for commemoration of those who lost lives. The district also has the responsibility to display history at memorials so that guests will easily learn about our history,” he said.

He went on to explain that Rubavu District is set to build a memorial garden which will feature history of Genocide against Tutsi and promised support to provide shelters for survivors and renovate their dilapidated houses.

The President of Ibuka in Rubavu District, Gérard Mbarushimana has also thanked Bralirwa for honouring slain employees and supporting their families.

“I thank Bralirwa for paying homage to our loved ones deprived of lives and supporting families of former employees, victims of Genocide as well as supporting orphans to pursue education up to the university level,” he noted.

Visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial

In the context of activities to commemorate Genocide against Tutsi, the brewery has also visited Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to victims laid there.

At the memorial, the management of staff of Bralirwa Plc were taken through Genocide history, how it was planned and executed.

The Managing Director of Bralirwa Plc, Etienne Saada comforted families whose relatives were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi highlighting that they will continue supporting the company’s former employees killed over their innate personality.

“Today, we commemorate for the 28th time the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which took lives of more than one million victims. I also send condolences to relatives of victims including our former employees,” he said.

“We also remember as we rebuild. That is why Bralirwa Plc shall continue to support orphans born to our former employees killed during the Genocide,” he said.

Paul Rukesha, a staff member at the memorial thanked Bralirwa for contributing to the preservation of the memorial and having stood together with survivors.

Bralirwa Plc remembers at a time when Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi during which over 1 million victims were killed on the basis of their identity in 100 days.

Bralirwa also held a commemoration event at its plant in Rubavu District.

The flame of hope was lit at the commemoration event in Rubavu.