Recognizing this power, the Mustard Seed Institute (MSI) and Ishami Foundation recently partnered to leverage football as a tool for promoting social cohesion and harmony in Rwanda, a country once reduced to ashes during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Through this initiative, they aim to deepen understanding of Rwanda’s core values of forgiveness, tolerance, and unity.
Ishami Foundation, is an organization that uses football as a tool to promote tolerance, unity and reconciliation among Rwandan youth.
This collaboration came to life during the celebration of International Peace Day on September 21, 2024. To mark the occasion, the Ishami Foundation, in partnership with MSI, and with support from the Former Amavubi Players Association (FAPA) and Coaches Across Continents (CAC), organized a week-long football program in Murambi Sector, Gatsibo District.
The initiative brought together people of all ages and backgrounds, using sport as a medium to foster community spirit and peace.
The celebration in the area was not by coincidence. Murambi, now part of Gatsibo District, has a tragic history. Formerly part of the Murambi Commune in Byumba Prefecture (today’s Eastern Province), it was a significant site of mass killings during the genocide, under the notorious leadership of the then Bourgmestre Jean Baptiste Gatete.
In this area, new militia groups were introduced, ensuring widespread participation of the local Hutu population in exterminating the Tutsi.
These groups formed alliances known as "Imboma," a name derived from insecticide tablets used to kill cockroaches—a dehumanizing term used to refer to Tutsis.
Women and children were also conscripted into the genocide. Female militias were known as "Interamwete," while children were referred to as "Imiyugiri."
Particularly, the Interamwete initially encouraged their husbands to avoid any contact with Tutsi women and their families and assisted the Interahamwe by identifying hiding Tutsis or singing songs to boost morale among the killers.
Despite this dark past, Murambi has transformed into a community committed to unity and reconciliation. MSI, a grassroots organization founded by genocide survivor Jean Nepomoscene Sibomana and his wife, Sabrina Joy Smith, has played a pivotal role in this transformation. Established on Sibomana’s family land in 2015, MSI employs former genocide perpetrators or their descendants, fostering peaceful coexistence and promoting forgiveness.
Sibomana’s efforts were recognized in 2022 when he was honored with the Protectors of the Friendship Covenant award (Umurinzi w’Igihango) by Rwanda’s First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, for his contributions to national unity. Building on the power of sport, MSI, with support from the Ishami Foundation, is now integrating football into its programs to further advance peace and unity in Murambi.
The International Peace Day activities featured a 3-day training session for 14 youth football coaches, led by CAC’s East Africa Regional Instructor, Salim T. Blanden, alongside Community Impact Coach, Evariste Habimana. The training focused on Rwanda’s Home-Grown Solutions and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The week culminated in a showcase event on September 21, where the public witnessed the unifying power of football. Games such as Ndi Umunyarwanda, Kwibuka, and Kubaka Amahoro were played, highlighting how sports can foster resilience and peacebuilding within communities. The youth coaches, who had completed their training, led the games ahead of the finals, which saw thrilling matches between local teams.
The girls’ final between Rwimitereri Cell and Rwankuba Cell, and the boys’ final between Rwankuba Cell and Murambi Cell, were played in a lively atmosphere with hundreds of fans from the community cheering on the teams.
Winning teams were awarded trophies, and all participants received certificates commemorating International Peace Day.
It was unanimously agreed that this event will now become an annual tradition, with sports and other activities promoting community engagement, especially among the youth, to encourage peaceful coexistence in Murambi and beyond.
Following the matches, local authorities and organizers delivered messages of peace and unity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and shared values.
Eric Murangwa Eugène, Founder and CEO of Ishami Foundation and President of the Former Amavubi Players Association, highlighted the transformative power of sport.
"International Peace Day in Murambi is not just a commemoration; it’s a powerful reminder of our journey from tragedy to triumph. Through sport, we are weaving a new narrative of unity and reconciliation, transforming a place once marked by violence into a community that embodies hope and collaboration," he said.
Jean Nepomoscene Sibomana, co-founder of MSI and the main organizer of the Peace Day activities, noted the importance of leveraging sport for social change.
"Through the power of sport and community engagement, we are transforming Murambi into a beacon of reconciliation and opportunity. Together, we are rewriting our story from one of tragedy to a legacy of hope, healing, and harmony," he stated.
Simpenzwe Gaspard, a Community Youth Football Coach, expressed how participating in the training opened his eyes to football’s potential as a tool for social change. "It’s not just about the game; it’s about fostering understanding, building friendships, and empowering our youth to be champions of peace and unity in our community," he said.
Jean Claude Ndayisenga, Executive Secretary of Murambi Sector, also praised the initiative for shaping a future where unity and collaboration define the community’s identity.
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