Author Launches Children’s Book Teaching Unity Through Genocide History

At Monday’s book launch, September 1, 2025, Kayitesi described the book as “a gift from my heart to our youth. It is written in simple words but carries a powerful message: unity is not just words, but a way of living, coexisting, and building the future.”

He said he wrote the book imagining children from different backgrounds reading together, learning about their peers, and appreciating one another. “I imagined that they would understand that love, respect, and sharing joy form the foundation for lasting peace,” he said.

Kayitesi, who lost family members and friends during the Genocide, said the experience left him traumatized. “I was so traumatized that I lost the ability to remember and speak, but through it all, I learned the value of patience, forgiveness, and striving for unity,” he said.

He added that he eventually overcame grief and began sharing his story through books. His first book, A Broken Life, chronicled his journey of survival after trauma and loss.

Ambassador Robert Masozera said the launch coincided with September, a month dedicated to reading and writing campaigns. He praised the book for addressing a heavy historical topic in a way that is accessible to young readers.

“In Kayitesi’s book, children learn about the history experienced by the Tutsi while also seeing the strength they drew to choose peace, unity, and resilience,” Masozera said. “As a Cultural Assembly, we highly value this book as a way of preserving and safeguarding history.”