To mark International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 each year, members of the Forum for Vigilant Memory (FMV) gathered at the NGO’s headquarters in Muhanga (Southern Province) to recognize the essential role of women in society.
A particularly significant part of the gathering was dedicated to couples’ training. Godefroid Sindayigaya, director of leadership and capacity building at the FMV, shared a message centered on the value and dignity of women, as well as the importance of love, respect, and unity within a marriage. Drawing on biblical references, he reminded the audience that women must be honored and respected, particularly by their husbands, and that relationships between couples must be founded on love, care, humility, and mutual respect.
He also emphasized that couples’ training is essential for building strong families, as the family is the basic unit of society. “When couples learn to respect and support one another, they help build stable, peaceful, and united communities,” said Mr. Godefroid.
In recognition of his commitment to promoting leadership, couple formation, and family stability, Mr. Godefroid Sindayigaya received a certificate of recognition awarded by the FMV. The meeting concluded in a friendly and fraternal atmosphere, with the shared conviction that every member of the FMV can contribute to building a society founded on remembrance, solidarity, peace, and the fight against poverty.
At the initiative of FMV Secretary General Jean de Dieu Niyongabo, this meeting brought together the organization’s members in a spirit of unity, dialogue, sharing, and mutual encouragement for future projects.
With this in mind, the head of the FMV’s education support project, Vincent Nzisabira, presented an initiative launched in 2019 aimed at supporting the education of vulnerable Burundian refugee children and youth. Thanks to the support of partners such as the Burundian Community of Texas (BCT) and Flaming Chalice International (FCI), 78 students were able to receive support throughout their educational journey.
However, since the 2024–2025 school year, the project has faced enormous difficulties due to the withdrawal of donors, prompting the organization to seek new partners to continue this mission.
The second presentation was given by Frédéric Niburana, CEO of SURAM Ltd, a social enterprise created to provide financial support for FMV’s activities.
Through various services, including printing, the sale of school supplies, the organization of training programs, consulting services, architecture, and construction, SURAM Ltd aims to generate sustainable resources to finance the organization’s social projects while promoting job creation for young people, women, and refugees.
The Forum for Vigilant Memory is an organization dedicated to promoting remembrance, education, and conflict prevention. Through its initiatives, the organization seeks to strengthen social cohesion, promote human rights, and support vulnerable populations, particularly refugees, immigrants, and returnees living in Rwanda.
Some pictures of the day:
