Earlier this month, Schreiber seniors gathered in the auditorium to listen to a painful story from a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people of Rwanda. Consolee Nishimwe, an author and activist born in Rwanda, shared her experience from the genocide for the second time at Schreiber, allowing students the chance to view the situation with a new perspective.
Prior to the genocide, two main groups of people, the Tutsi and the Hutu, occupied the Rwandan region and lived peacefully. Over many years, leaders and extremists began to spread fear and hateful ideas against the Tutsi people. In April of 1994, the president of Rwanda, Juvénal Habyarimana, was assassinated and the country was pushed into terrible violence. The leaders of the genocide, including various government officials and military leaders, encouraged ordinary citizens to attack any Tutsis they knew, including neighbors, friends, and classmates.
Nishimwe, a member of the Tutsi people, was unfortunately exposed to this extreme violence, and lost many friends and family to the terror of the Hutu people. Thankfully, she survived the attacks and was able to travel to America in hopes of escaping the traumatic memories that surrounded her homeland. Since her migration, she has made it a goal to share her story in order to educate young generations on the history of her people, while bringing awareness to the hardships she faced.
Nishimwe has spoken for more than just high school students. She has been featured on FOX 5 TV New York, The Huffington Post, The New Times Rwanda, Al Jazeera America, Voice of America, UN Africa Renewal Magazine, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, Women’s Media Center, The Salt Lake Tribune, Observer, New York Amsterdam news, several radio programmes, podcasts, and various university newspapers. Throughout all of these appearances, her message has remained clear: educate and inspire.
“One of the things that I always say to people: ‘No matter what you go through, never lose hope’,” said Nishimwe.
In addition to being an accomplished public speaker, Nishimwe can also claim the title of author. Her book, Tested to the Limit: A Genocide Survivor’s Story of Pain, Resilience, and Hope, is a memoir focused on Nishimwe’s experiences in Rwanda. The book is told through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Nishimwe, providing a new and youthful perspective on a terrifying topic.
When asked what she wants to leave students with after hearing her story, she shared a quote from Dr. Elie Wiesel: “When you listen to a witness, you become a witness.”
“Others are going to listen to my story, continue to share my story, and make sure that it is not forgotten,” explained Nishimwe.
Nishimwe has also had to overcome the challenge of living with HIV after contracting AIDS from Hutu killers during the genocide. As if simply experiencing a genocide of her own people was not enough, Nishimwe is also plagued with additional trauma, making it even more difficult for her to speak out.
“Building up the courage to speak and write about one’s experiences as a rape victim is not an easy task, as the severe psychological turmoil within you often becomes so overwhelming that it is very difficult to express what you feel,” writes Nishimwe on her blog.
Nishimwe is a committed speaker on the genocide, an extremely dedicated defender of women’s rights, and an advocate for survivors of other genocides. Her experience has given her the insight to understand the stories of fellow survivors, allowing her to encourage others to speak out just as she has.