Albert Gasake (right) was one of three Rwandan Genocide survivors to accept the 2009 Niarchos Prize for Survivorship on behalf of the people of Rwanda. Albert lost his parents and brothers in the genocide when he was
nine years old. He brought together other young survivors to create an
internet cafe and an agricultural cooperative to benefit their
community.
"Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
My name is Albert Gasake. When I was only ten years old genocide broke out in my country. I remember being just a boy when my classmates and my teachers would call me snake or cockroach just because of my ethnicity. All these meant to degrade my human dignity and to any one else who was mischance to be born Tutsi.
When the militias came I was hiding in the church with my family. We thought it would be a sacred place. Then the militias arrived with lists of names. First they called up my family, but I hid in the crowd. I saw them force my family to take off all of our clothes. Then I saw them hit my mother with a machete. I remember the cries of my mother for hours before she died. I was also beaten but hid in all the dead bodies to survive.
After the Genocide, I did not have any hope and I felt that Rwanda was like a hell where I could only see killers around me and was condemned to live with them. A few years later, I volunteered to care for ten children ensuring that each of them did well in school and had a chance for their future.
I also started working with other survivors to help build economic opportunities through small businesses such as running an internet café, bee keeping and farming initiatives. Today there are 200 survivors who benefit from these programs.
I am happy to be a part of building the Rwanda that my late Parents had ever dreamt about, a country where every one lives at peace, where the future is bright for every one and no matter who you are.
Thank you very much."
WATCH Albert's speech [youtube]
See speeches by other 2009 Niarchos Prize honorees: