On Wednesday 13 May, the Aegis Trust convened the ASPIRE Partners’ Exchange at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Amphitheatre, bringing together government representatives, civil society actors, researchers, educators, youth leaders, parents and development partners to celebrate achievements of the Action for Sustainable Peace, Inclusion, Rights and Equality (ASPIRE) Programme, and to discuss the future of sustainable peacebuilding in Rwanda.
Implemented by the Aegis Trust in partnership with Radio La Benevolencija and supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the ASPIRE Programme (2021–2025) strengthened peacebuilding efforts across Rwanda through integrated approaches grounded in Peace and Values Education (PVE), research and advocacy.
A Shared Commitment to Sustainable Peace
‘ASPIRE: The Journey and Beyond’ opened with delegates experiencing the exhibition ‘Teaching Peace Builds a Nation’, tracing the programme’s journey across 16 districts and its work with schools, communities, researchers, youth, and policymakers through Peace Centres in Kigali, Huye, and Nyagatare. The exhibition presented human stories at the heart of the programme, from teacher Gisele Hirwa’s work to discover and address hidden trauma among her students, to survivor Albert Rutikanga’s decision to forgive the killers of his family and build a joint initiative with former perpetrators in Kayonza District. A presentation, ‘ASPIRE: The Story in Motion’, further brought the programme’s milestones and community stories to life.
Highlighting Achievements and Lessons Learned
A central session, ‘Taking Stock: Progress, Gaps and Highlights,’ unpacked four years of results. Participants reflected on ASPIRE’s contributions to peace and values education, community dialogue, and the creation of collaborative spaces where stakeholders could engage on peace, inclusion and social cohesion. Discussions also acknowledged emerging challenges and the importance of adapting interventions to evolving social realities.
Aegis CEO Freddy Mutanguha highlighted a defining measure of success: “More than 94% of teachers consistently integrated peace and values education in their classrooms.” He also spoke to the wider human impact: “We have seen teachers become mentors and role models. We have seen young people develop confidence, empathy, leadership and conflict resolution skills. We have seen families and communities engage in conversations that strengthen understanding and social cohesion.”
Building the Road Ahead Together
The event concluded with a collaborative reflection on sustaining partnerships beyond the programme. Speakers emphasised that lasting peace requires continued collective action across behavioural, relational and institutional levels.
Sandra Shenge, Director of Programmes at the Aegis Trust, noted that “Partnerships have been central, as an approach and as a methodology, to ensure the model keeps evolving and gaining strength.”
Martina F. Mohlin, Head of Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Rwanda, acknowledged the profound human dimension of the work: “How do you talk about the Genocide against the Tutsi and teach it to young people when you yourself walk around with your own wounds? This is where Aegis Trust and the work you’ve done is so incredibly important.” She added: “The relationships built, the capacities strengthened, and the values nurtured will endure.”
Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere offered a clear call to action: “As the ASPIRE programme concludes, we should not think of this as the end of the work. In many ways, this should be the beginning of a stronger and more sustained phase.”
The event also served as an opportunity to recognise and thank the institutions, communities and individuals whose contributions made ASPIRE possible. As the programme concludes, its legacy lives on through strengthened networks, shared learning and a renewed commitment to advancing inclusive and lasting peace in Rwanda.