Photo by Eli Solitas on Unsplash
by Michaella Rugwizangoga
Red, Blue, Yellow
Green, White, Purple
Jasmine, Orange, Azure
Old pallor’s,
Make way for new homes
A future spread with colours
A horizon without sorrow
Here ends our pain.
Here begins life
The above poem was dedicated to the survivors of the Genocide in Rwanda as a message of hope and solidarity. It was written by the award-winning Rwandan poet Michaella Rugwizangoga. Click here to find out more about her. You can listen to 'Colours' here being read by actress Nina Sosanya.
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day and this year's theme is 'One Day'. Today we "come together to remember, to learn about the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. We learn more about the past, we empathise with others today, and we take action for a better future." (https://www.hmd.org.uk/what-is-holocaust-memorial-day/this-years-theme/)
Click here to learn more about the genocide in Rwanda - the birthplace of my son-in-law Eliezer.
Click here to read about Gadi, Mussa and Bizimana, three orphaned survivors of the Rwandan genocide who took part in an amazing and life-changing photography project.
Finally, here is a link to three short, moving films, featuring their photography, where we meet children of genocide perpetrators.
Writing prompts:
- Light a candle in remembrance and, after focussing for a few moments on the flame, write in response to the above lines "Here ends our pain. Here begins life"
- Take the HMD theme and write, without stopping, on 'One Day'.
- Set a timer for seven minutes and write your reaction to what you have read or watched via the links above.
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