Interview

Honoré Gatera

Guides Department Manager, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Kigali

Honoré Gatera is the head guide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre in Gisozi, Rwanda — one of Aegis Trust's two international centers of reflection and learning.

What is the mission statement of your organization?

The Aegis Trust campaigns to prevent genocide worldwide. Aegis activities include: research, policy, education, remembrance, advocacy, awareness of genocide issues in the media, and humanitarian support for victims of genocide.

When was it created, by whom, and why?

The Aegis Trust was launched in 2000 by Doctors James and Stephen Smith. Its creation emerged from the experience of the UK Holocaust Centre, established by the Smith family in 1995.

Outside of funding, what are some of the biggest challenges it faces? Or, specifically, what is the most frustrating part?

Challenges are everywhere in everyday work of each institution, but the biggest challenges that we face are based in the character of our work as the genocide prevention itself has been a challenging issue for a long time. The beliefs and political structures of the societies make another challenge. The most frustrating part is how genocide and mass killings and violence reoccur in different societies and many of these societies do not believe in the danger surrounding their people.

What is your dream for the NGO?

My dream for the NGO is to extend its activities and reach different areas where societies will be destroyed by violence and genocidal ideologies in the future. I wish the Aegis Trust to really become the shield of humanity — as its name means.

What would you consider your greatest accomplishment?

I would consider our greatest accomplishment to have had an initiative of working in the genocide prevention field and to have created and maintained the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, which is now an unbelievable tool for humanity education.

What are three things about Aegis Trust that you wish people knew?

• I wish that the whole world should know that there are dedicated people who want to save humanity against its biggest challenge.
• I would like people to know that charity organizations like the AEGIS TRUST need more support from different people and at different levels to raise awareness about the danger of genocide to our future.
• I would like people to know that the only way to fight against genocidal ideologies is to work together with all our means because this is a very hard task. We need every single individual contribution.

Do you think media accurately portrays the issues your organization represents?

Yes but not at the required level. Media always concentrates on conflict issues and does not give any solution to them. I have personally had bad experience with media, but I still think it is a powerful tool to save our societies.

How can people get involved?

People can be involved through different ways: by volunteering, donating, helping needy people, supporting our educational programs, and getting interested by visiting our work in different countries and be part of us for this continuous struggle.

How was the grant given by explore through the Annenberg Foundation used?

The grant given by explore was important; it’s still being used in different departments of our work - mainly in our educational program for the future of humanity.

Do you think it had an impact? How?

It had a great impact on our work: Many of the charity works do not get sponsored by many people, we have made a big impact with this grant and I think the impact will be more visible and greater in the near future.

What was your biggest surprise when explore came to visit you?

The biggest surprise with explore visit was Charles Annenberg himself. He is another figure to me, he marked my life in a way of hope. Up to this moment it’s still a surprise to me that I have never met a person like him before. It has been difficult for me to believe what happened in the three days that we spent together.

How long have you been involved with Aegis Trust and the Kigali Memorial Centre?

I have been involved since April 2004.

Why did you get involved?

I got involved as the work of the NGO is particularly related to my personal and country’s experience. This kind of work needs much dedication and perseverance, many people are not able to stand for long through this work due to its character and yet it’s a work for the future of humanity that I need to care for.

Have you always worked in the nonprofit field?

This was my first experience with NGO; I worked with private people but not considered as NGOs. It has been a very interesting experience, I have the feeling that I am in the right place for the real change.

Why is NGO work important?

NGO work is very important mainly in many developing countries whose governments are not strong enough or do not have required capacities to cover all the field of their countries life. The work is an added value to these countries and to their development because it covers various important and difficult fields.

Did you have an inspirational figure in your life growing up?

Yes, Nelson Mandela, the former South African President.

Are there other selfless leaders out there you admire? If so, who and why?

Yes, the Late Thomas Sankara; the reason I admire him is that I was born in a generation of post-colonial leaders who were 90% extremists and selfish - they sold their countries and their people for their personal gains. Those who could make a difference to mark the opposite image were paid to be killed. I like Thomas because he was a victim of what handicaps development in Africa; he will always be an example to me.

If there is one place or issue out there in the world you could personally explore, what would it be?

I would personally like to explore places related to the history of violence that have marked humanity and really learn from them. Many people seem to ignore past experience, and we will not have a sure future if we don’t learn from our past mistakes.

Why is it important to be a selfless person?

It’s important to be a selfless person to understand the pain of others, it requires being selfless to understand that another person suffers like you do. The world does not have many selfless people and this is one of the reasons humanity has suffered a lot and has had violence and permanent inequity.

What do you believe to be the biggest challenge facing our planet today?

I believe that our planet today is facing the the loss of a sense of humanity. People want to become "super controllers" and this is the origin of all the problems we are facing.

What do you think will be our planet’s biggest challenge 10 years from now? 25 years from now? 50 years from now?

In the future I think our planet will be suffering the most from the impact of global warming.

What is the key to living a happy life?

The key to living a happy life is remain a true human being and work hard till you die for positive change. You will be happy that you didn’t leave the world as you saw it when you were born.