rogoffinrwanda:

Albert Nzamukwereka, the Rwanda Coordinator for Survivor Corps, was elected president of his class at the University of Rwanda. It was a free and fair election.

Today, Albert is dedicated to improving civil society, restoring peace to Rwanda through investment and reconciliation, and improving human rights in the country. Over tea, we chatted about the prospects for Rwanda’s reconciliation.

“Can people really forgive those that killed,” I asked.

“We do not have a choice,” he replied, “It is our only option.”

Albert told me the story of Dativa, a survivor of the genocide who has learned to forgive. The man who killed her family went through the gacaca process and the community granted him forgiveness. He knew that gacaca would only grant him freedom on the surface; to gain genuine forgiveness he would need to do more than confess. He began helping Dativa fix the leaks in her house and with her errands. He drove her to the hospital when she fell ill. Through service he gained Dativa’s forgiveness.

I probed deeper, “What does forgiveness really mean? Are you able to forgive those people that murdered your family?”

“If they are brought to justice, yes. If they confess honestly and are given a punishment and they serve their time, yes, I can forgive them. I will accept them back into society. I will give them a hand.”

He continued, “For Rwanda to recover, we must forgive. It will not be easy, but we do not have a choice. I believe that my generation and the youth will allow this to happen. As our country develops, we will worry less about the past and more about business and prosperity. I have hope for our future and that is why I do this work.”