Volunteers help a trauma victim during a commemoration event at Kicukiro Nyanza Genocide Memorial on May 4, 2019. Sam Ngendahimana
The effects of what happened during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda still ripple to this day.
People who were born years after this tragic event are carrying the bits and pieces of the horrible pains of what their parents and relatives suffered; the brutal murders where victims were killed with machetes and rifles, and the molestation – sexual violence was rife. It was brutal.
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Decades later, Rwandans, not only the old but the young too, are enduring post-genocide trauma. It is evident that those who lived through the 1994 genocide against Tutsi have endured traumatic experiences and troubling memories. As for the younger generation—those born after the genocide and are direct descendants of its survivors—though they did not personally endure the physical and psychological pain of the event, they have been raised in a traumatized society and, in various ways, have been impacted by the far-reaching consequences of this tragedy.
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The youth continue to experience lasting societal trauma caused by this adversity. What this highlights is the undeniable fact that, if left unhealed, trauma can evolve into a transgenerational issue.
A 2019 study by Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) found that the prevalence of trauma among genocide survivors and their children, aged 24 to 35, is 18.5 percent.
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Transgenerational trauma refers to the subconscious passing of traumatic experiences to future generations and society.
According to experts, transgenerational trauma occurs when the traumatic experiences of parents impact the mental health, behaviour, and well-being of their offspring. This trauma is transmitted not only through parental behaviour but also through social influences and epigenetic factors, which can alter gene expression and contribute to its transmission.
Nonetheless, the government and various organizations are working tirelessly to prioritize trauma-healing efforts, recognizing their importance in achieving sustainable peace and development.
This is very crucial, because leaving this type of trauma unhealed poses significant dangers. It can manifest in unending cycles of pain, impacting mental health, relationships, and the overall well-being across generations. Unresolved trauma may also preserve feelings of anger, fear, and mistrust, nurturing divisions within families and society. This in turn can hinder the progress of the country’s reconciliation and development.
Healing is essential not only for the young people but for the long-term peace, unity, and stability of the entire community.
How can youth be guided to healing?
Notes from Marie Grace Kagoyire Gasinzigwa’s post, ‘Making Sense of the Unlived Past: Factors Among Post-Genocide Rwandan Youth,’ indicate how discourse about the past could help younger generations learn from history while developing a sense of positive self-identity and ensuring youth develop into adults who will champion the prevention of future violence.
However, parents continue to remain silent as disclosing the past brings back painful memories.
Consequently, descendants of genocide survivors and perpetrators develop confusion instead of having a clear sense of what happened during the genocide. The inability to make a clear sense is heightened by incongruities between messages delivered at home, those taught in schools, and those transmitted in public remembrance events and communities. As a result, people who suffer from psychological trauma—including children who did not live through the genocide—are likely to develop negative perspectives about themselves and the world, which portends the risk of continued violence in Rwanda in the future.
It is vital for the youth suffering from transgenerational trauma to understand what they are going through, for it is only through acknowledgement and seeking help that they can finally find healing.
Various organisations have created healing spaces where young people can convene to share and listen to stories of hope and healing. Through such platforms, young people also access information, and in the process, they are equipped with sufficient knowledge and understanding of what transpired.
Knowledge is power. Sharing the stories and telling facts about the history of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi is the most effective way of dealing with transgenerational trauma. Recollecting such horrible events doesn’t come easy, especially when relating with young people. But it’s upon the older generation to share these stories. Not only does this bring healing in the process, it is also one way of preserving history – a history we never want to see happen again.
Let their voices be heard. Young people need to be aware of the impact trauma carries on one’s life. This way, they won’t have to condemn themselves or carry emotional burdens in silence. They ought to identify the signs and symptoms of trauma and seek help from responsible parties.
A healthy youth is a healthy nation. There is need to tighten efforts around strategies and approaches to cater for the young generation. Let there be ample spaces and policies that delve deeper into issues pertaining to young people’s unresolved trauma.
The author is the protector of friendship pact at national level (umurinzi w’igihango ku rwego rw’igihugu).
