NPO TER’s Annual Peace Concert 2025
- Category: News
- Date 29-09-2025
The Annual Peace Concert 2025, organized by NPO Think About Education in Rwanda (NPO TER), was celebrated in both Japan and Rwanda to honor the values of peace, remembrance, and cross-cultural understanding. In Japan, the concert took place from 1–10 August, while in Rwanda it was held on 14–15 August, beginning at the Kigali Genocide Memorial with solemn speeches from Dr. Saidi Rumanzi Mubaraka, Country Director of NPO TER, and Madam Marie Louise Towari, the President of NPO TER, who emphasized remembrance and peace education as pillars of the organization’s mission. A moving testimony from a representative of the Sevota Community reminded participants of the human cost of violence, while international partners including Yes For Peace from Japan, Hope in Action from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Japan Peace Concert Committee shared grassroots initiatives, regional solidarity efforts, and cultural exchange experiences. Art and poetry by Mr. Uwayo Thierry and Mumatsa Maliki highlighted how peace can be powerfully expressed through culture, and the day ended with participants laying flowers at the genocide memorial tomb and touring exhibits to reaffirm their personal and collective commitment to peace. The second day in Miyove Sector, Gicumbi District, shifted to a celebratory tone, with the Peace Football Tournament Final Match drawing local teams and enthusiastic community members, while children from Miyove Primary School delivered songs, dances, and skits carrying reconciliation messages. Cultural showcases including the Wadaiko drum ensemble, a karate demonstration, traditional dances, and creative acts from schools and partners such as Josai International University and Umuco Mwiza School energized the audience. The presence of the Vice Mayor of Gicumbi District, alongside local leaders, Japanese guests, Congolese partners, and stakeholders, underscored the wide-reaching collaboration that makes peacebuilding possible. Altogether, the Peace Concert succeeded in blending remembrance, testimony, art, sports, and community mobilization, strengthening bonds between Japan and Rwanda, engaging youth in peace education, and reaffirming NPO TER’s commitment to building bridges of unity across cultures and generations.