Strengthening local capacity, investing in people and promoting peace: in August, the Forum for Memory Vigilante (FMV) marked an important milestone in its work through two significant engagements—a visit from Spirit in Action (SIA) and a regional roundtable on peace in the Great Lakes Region. Together, these activities highlighted FMV’s growing partnerships, institutional development and continued commitment to communities affected by conflict and genocide.
The month of August brought two important moments for the Forum for Memory Vigilante (FMV), reflecting the organization’s commitment to strengthening communities, building institutional capacity and contributing to peace in the Great Lakes Region.
The first was a visit by Tanya, Executive Director of Spirit in Action (SIA), accompanied by members of her team. The second was FMV’s participation in the regional roundtable “Reimagining Peace in the Great Lakes Region,” organized within the framework of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC).
Beyond being two separate events, these engagements provided an opportunity for FMV to share its experience, strengthen relationships with partners and reflect on how its work can contribute to lasting change.
Spirit in Action: Investing in Local Potential
Spirit in Action has been a longstanding partner of FMV, supporting the organization over several years. Its contribution has extended beyond support for community initiatives to include institutional strengthening and organizational development.
For FMV, investing in people is at the heart of sustainable institutional growth.
As part of this commitment, a member of the FMV team participated in the LeadER Learning Programme, a leadership development programme organized by UNHCR through eCentre Africa, with financial support from the Government of Japan.
The programme, which took place over several months, provided an opportunity to strengthen skills in leadership, decision-making, communication and teamwork.
For FMV, such investments are not simply about individual professional development. They are part of a broader effort to build an organization that is better equipped to respond to the needs of communities.
Today, these strengthened capacities are helping FMV improve its ability to design quality projects, respond to calls for proposals, develop partnerships, mobilize resources and demonstrate results.
“UFISE AGACIRO GUSUMBA UKO UVYIBAZA”: A Message That Resonated
One of the most memorable moments of Tanya’s visit was not a formal presentation or institutional discussion, but a simple and powerful message.
“UFISE AGACIRO GUSUMBA UKO UVYIBAZA.”
The expression means: “You have more value than you think.”
According to Tanya, Executive Director of Spirit in Action, the message comes from the founder of SIA.
For the FMV family, the words carried a deeper meaning. They were understood as a message not only to individuals, but to the organization as a whole—its members, staff and leadership.
The message is a reminder that an organization’s greatest strength is not necessarily measured by its financial or material resources. It is also found in the people behind it: their commitment, experience, creativity and ability to serve their communities.
Reimagining Peace in the Great Lakes Region
While institutional strengthening remains important, FMV’s work also extends to regional efforts aimed at promoting peace, memory and conflict prevention.
The organization participated in the regional roundtable “Reimagining Peace in the Great Lakes Region,” held within the framework of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
The gathering brought together actors committed to exploring new approaches to peacebuilding in a region that has experienced decades of conflict, displacement and violence.
Discussions highlighted the importance of local organizations, memory, dialogue and community participation in preventing conflict and building sustainable peace.
For FMV, the experiences of communities, survivors, refugees and people affected by genocidal ideologies, crises and crimes are an essential source of knowledge.
Their stories and experiences can help societies better understand the challenges of the present while creating pathways towards a different future.
From Memory to Action
FMV’s engagement in these two August activities reflects a broader vision: building a stronger institution while ensuring that its experience and knowledge contribute to peace beyond its immediate environment.
The organization aims to continue using the capacities it has developed to deliver quality projects, establish new partnerships and mobilize greater resources for communities.
At the heart of this approach is a belief that meaningful and lasting impact requires more than individual efforts. It requires partnerships built on trust, investment in people, knowledge-sharing and a shared commitment to communities.
As FMV looks to the future, the words shared by Tanya remain a source of encouragement:
“UFISE AGACIRO GUSUMBA UKO UVYIBAZA” — You have more value than you think.
For an organization working at the intersection of memory, education and prevention, the message is both simple and powerful: recognizing the value of people is itself a step towards building stronger communities and a more peaceful future.
Memory – Education – Prevention
Remembering to heal, educating to prevent, acting to build peace.
The Forum for Memory Vigilante (FMV) is a national non-governmental organization working in the public interest. Its primary mission is to promote education on genocide and provide assistance to genocide survivors and victims.
Additional photos for illustration:
