The partnership announced on April 7, will focus on training memorial managers and staff to welcome school groups, improving the exhibitions, and creating educational content for schools. This initiative aims to deepen the educational impact of Rwanda’s memorial sites, which are central to preserving the memory of the genocide.

The project will be carried out in partnership with Aegis Trust and the Rwandan Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE).

Commenting on the initiative, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“What happened in Rwanda concerns the whole of humanity. Education and the media were instrumentalized to transform ordinary citizens into killers. We must tirelessly transmit the history of the genocide, out of duty to the victims and to ensure that such atrocities never happen again. Everywhere, we must make education a powerful tool for remembrance, reconciliation, and peace,” she stated.

As part of the initiative, UNESCO will send a team of around fifteen young researchers, multimedia professionals, and Rwandan artists to enhance the exhibitions and improve signage at the memorials. A major focus will be placed on preserving the ’living memory’ of the genocide by digitizing survivor interviews, producing documentary films, and organizing photographic projects.

In addition, UNESCO will provide training for memorial staff to better host and guide school groups. Staff will be connected with colleagues from other memorials to share expertise and form partnerships with survivor associations and the educational community.

UNESCO will also develop new educational content in Kinyarwanda, English, and French to help teachers prepare for their students’ visits to the memorials. The organization will also collaborate with young Rwandan content creators to lead social media campaigns aimed at promoting the memorial sites and combating historical falsification and online misinformation about the genocide.

Kigali Genocide Memorial is among sites inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.