The Association of Student Genocide Survivors (AERG) marked its 30th anniversary on October 20, 2026, three decades after it was founded to support survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and help them rebuild their lives.
Established on October 20, 1996, the association was created to promote resilience among Rwandans and help survivors cope with the trauma and lasting effects of the genocide.
AERG was founded by 12 students who had survived the genocide while studying at the former National University of Rwanda in Butare, now part of Huye District. Its founding principles included remembrance, prevention, living well and mutual support.
From its early days, members supported one another emotionally and academically, while seeking assistance for fellow survivors dealing with physical injuries and psychological trauma.
The initiative gradually expanded beyond Butare to universities and secondary schools across the country, including institutions in Save, Nyanza, Byimana and Kigali.
AERG later spread to other higher learning institutions, including the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE), the Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) and the Kigali Independent University (ULK).
As the original members completed their studies, they established the Association of Former Student Genocide Survivors, known as GAERG-AHEZA, in 2003 to continue supporting survivors who were still struggling with the consequences of the genocide.
The former students continued visiting AERG members at their schools, helping them address challenges and providing emotional and practical support. They also visited genocide survivors in different parts of the country, offered assistance with their needs and helped repair damaged homes.
Their activities included identifying the remains of genocide victims and ensuring they were given a dignified burial.
The association continued to grow. By 2017, AERG reportedly had more than 43,000 members, with its presence extending to nearly all schools across Rwanda.
In late 2024, AERG and GAERG-AHEZA joined forces with IBUKA, a Rwandan non-governmental organisation established on December 14, 1995, to represent and advocate for survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
