With the Unity Club emphasizing that age is not a factor when considering individuals who have proved exceptional when it comes to staying true to their responsibilities towards society while helping the country to develop and promoting Unity, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission has noted that more people should be encouraged to do the same.

Initiatives like the Serge Gasore Foundation in Bugesera District of the Eastern Province have been helping to promote Unity and Reconciliation among local residents, while also helping them to improve their Social Welfare and Develop, which they say has been yielding results. Innocente Uwamahoro, the Foundation Director explains. 

"Ntarama Sector endured a terrible legacy during the Tutsi Genocide and that is why all our operations center on promoting unity and reconciliation in this area. Any person with a child at the Foundation's School must participate in Umuganda activities so that people can interact because, after the community activities, we always organize a get-together function. Any message delivered in such circumstances always has an impact and helps many people," Uwamahor says. 

Because of the Foundation's achievements, Serge Gasore was recognized as a Guardian of the Pact, otherwise known as "Umurinzi W'Igihango" here in Rwanda, a title he earned at the age of just 33.

Despite being the sole survivor of his family that perished during the Genocide against Tutsi, Gasore says he was inspired to do what he did by the country's current leadership.

"The Inspiration was given to us by a number of different people, the first being His Excellency the President of the Republic and others like the First Lady. All of those people do things that help others and have sacrificed a lot to make that happen. We have guardian angels that raised us, and others older than us that helped in taking care of us. Also, it makes me feel good when I help someone break free of the past and develop," Gasore said. 

The initiative to recognize and reward people like Serge Gasore that was first introduced by the Unity Club as part of the Ndi Umunyarwanda Program, has been commended by officials in the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission.

"The Ndi Umunyarwanda Program was born in the Unity Club and the Umurinzi W'Igihango Initiative came from the Ndi Umunyarwanda Program and so it came from Unity Club as well. We work with that Club to implement it. Members meet every year and discuss such initiatives and from such discussions, programs to promote Unity and Reconciliation are derived," Fidèle Ndayisaba, NURC Executive Secretary said.

This year's Unity Club forum will turn its attention to the 'Ndi Umunyarwanda' Program and how it has continued to help Rwandans to progress in as far as unity and reconciliation is concerned. 

 "The Ndi Umunyarwanda Program is the Principle Foundation and now that we believe that all people understand the importance of Unity and Reconciliation, that it is crucial for the survival of our country, we believe we should all practice this principle that we believe in, that we are all Rwandans. That will be one of the points emphasized during the discussions. We will also look at our progress over the last 5 years and the areas that need more work," Julienne Uwacu, Unity Club Member explained.

Unity Club was founded back in 1996 by the First Lady of Rwanda Jeannette Kagame and it brings together current and former Government Officials, as well as their spouses.

This year's Unity Club forum will be held on Friday.