A talk session on peace will be held in conjunction with KWIBUKA31

Group photo

アフリカ東部・ルワンダ共和国の少数民族「ツチ」に対する虐殺31年目の追悼の日「KWIBUKA31」（1994年のルワンダにおける集団虐殺を考える国際デー）にあたる4月7日（月）、NPO法人「ルワンダの教育を考える会」やルワンダ大学の協力のもと「平和を考えるトークセッション」を千葉東金キャンパスで開催しました。

今回のイベントには、駐日ルワンダ共和国特命全権大使MUKASINE Marie Claire閣下を主賓としてお招きし、「ルワンダを訪問した学生たちに深く感謝します。素晴らしい経験になったことと思います。追悼は受動的なものではありません。それは平和のための行動への呼びかけであります」と挨拶をいただきました。
続いて、ルワンダにおいて教育を通じた社会の再建と平和構築を支援する活動を行う国際協力NPO法人「ルワンダの教育を考える会」代表で自身も内戦を体験したTOWARI Marie Louise（トワリ・マリールイズ）氏からのメッセージや2024年度ルワンダ研修に参加した看護学部生6名による、平和や国際協力をテーマにした討論会を実施、卒業生が在学時の海外研修を振り返るスピーチをおこない、看護学部生や一般の方を含め約200名が参加しました。

In Rwanda, the civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi, who were at odds at the time, intensified, and on April 7, 1994, the majority Hutu started a genocide. It is estimated that more than one million people were killed in just 100 days. Every year on April 7, memorial ceremonies are held not only in Rwanda but also around the world to ensure that the same mistake is never repeated. "Kwibuka," which means "memory" in Kinyarwanda, is not just an act of commemoration, but also a national and communal pledge to truth, justice, and unity.

Marie Louise Toiletto shared her experiences, saying, "When I felt in danger, I fled to survive with my three children, Japanese and French dictionaries, my passport, and some cash. Miraculously, I was able to take refuge in the neighboring country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a refugee. I was no longer able to see most of my colleagues, with whom I would always say, "See you tomorrow." The students listened intently to her story. She continued, "About eight months after the civil war, I arrived at Narita International Airport. A university in Fukushima Prefecture accepted me as an international student. It was a day when my family and I could sleep peacefully. Every day I think about what I can do for those who wanted to live and those who could not. I want to speak out so that something like this never happens again."

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to Japan, Ms. Marie Claire MUKASINE

Ms. Marie Louise TOWARI, Representative of the International Cooperation NPO "Rwanda Education Association"

Following the message, Sakura Yanai (Faculty of Nursing graduate), who currently works as a school nurse at an international school, offered some encouragement to the students aspiring to become nurses, saying, "My parents were from Rwanda, so from an early age I was exposed to people of various nationalities in different environments. I participated in training in the United States twice while I was a student. Experiencing the medical field there was a valuable opportunity to experience firsthand the differences with Japan. Every day I feel the importance of viewing differences in nationality, culture, and way of thinking in a positive way, and thinking from the other person's perspective. Don't assume that you have limitations, and try anything, no matter how small."

Finally, a talk session was held with six third-year students from Faculty of Nursing who participated in the 2024 Rwanda training program and Towari Marie Louise. They talked about how their participation in the Rwanda training program made them reconsider peace and about their interactions with the Rwandan people who helped them there. They also showed off the "Rwandan names" that the Rwandan people had given each of them.

Since 2019, Faculty of Nursing has been conducting a one-month training program in Rwanda every year. As students of an international university, I believe that the participating students have developed a stronger interest in global issues and have learned about the horrors of genocide and war, which are closer to home than they thought, and the value of being able to enjoy peace in Japan.

A session with students who participated in the Rwanda training program