What We Do

Four Pillars of Community Work

Since 2001, Humura has built programs that respond to the real needs of our community — from the civic ritual of annual commemoration to the quiet, essential work of mental health support. Each program reflects the same belief: that memory, held together, becomes a foundation for life.

01

Memory

Remember — truthfully, publicly, and together

Kwibuka Commemoration
Pillar 1 · Memory
🕯
Pillar 1 · Memory

April 7th (Kwibuka) Yearly Commemoration

We gather, we tell the truth, we honor victims, and we teach so that the next generation walks in dignity, justice, and unity. Memory is not only a date — it is the way we live together. We coordinate the local program for the Kwibuka period: planning, logistics, and collaboration so remembrance is dignified, accurate, and accessible.

📋Program design & protocol — invitations, roles, schedule, venue flow
🏛Proclamations & flag-raising — civic recognition and public witness
🕯Memorial service & vigil — candle lighting, readings, songs, silence
🎤Speakers — survivors, scholars, faith & community leaders, youth voices
🤝Allied participation — coordination with partner communities
📷Documentation — press, photos, archival notes for the record

Ways to Participate

  • Attend the vigil, bring a candle, and stand with survivors
  • Invite your school, faith group, or organization to join
  • Offer reading or music contributions aligned with commemorative tone
  • Support via logistics, translation, visuals, or ushering

What to Expect

  • An evening of solemnity, testimony, and communal witness
  • Recognition by elected officials and civic leaders
  • A safe and dignified space for survivors and families
  • A community united in truth and remembrance
Café Littéraire
Memory · Pillar 1
📖
Pillar 1 · Memory

Café Littéraire · Testimony through Literature

A literary gathering where witness is carried through books and conversation. Authors, survivors, and readers meet; youth read publicly; questions are welcomed — memory kept with care.

🗣Author/survivor dialogues and moderated Q&A
📚Youth reading circles for confidence and understanding
✍️Book signings and curated reading lists
🗂Community notes archived for future editions

Ways to Participate

  • Propose an author or testimony for a future session
  • Facilitate a youth reading group at school or community center
  • Help with curation, visuals, and documentation

Who It's For

  • Survivors, community members, and allies
  • Students and educators seeking literary witness
  • Anyone who believes truth lives in story
Education & Anti-Denial
Memory · Pillar 1
⚖️
Pillar 1 · Memory

Testimony, Education & Anti-Denial Outreach

We counter denial and distortion by sharing verified testimony and contextual history in schools, conferences, and public forums. Truth told clearly is the first act of justice.

🏫Guest talks, assemblies, and classroom visits
📑Context primers for educators and civic leaders
📋Resource lists for responsible commemoration
📰Media notes to promote accuracy and dignity

Impact

  • Increased public awareness and accurate memory
  • Safer spaces for survivors and families
  • Confident youth able to speak about truth and justice

Living Memorial Practice

  • Names spoken, candles lit, silence held year-round
  • Community hospitality — meals, visits, accompaniment
  • Documentation: photos, audio, archives (with consent)
02

Healing & Mental Health

Spaces to name feelings, hear stories, and practice resilience

Healing · Pillar 2
💙
Pillar 2 · Healing

Conferences & Dialogues

We convene dialogues and connect people to culturally aware practitioners and resources — always with consent and care. Focused gatherings bring clinicians, scholars, survivors, and youth into conversation.

🧠Resilience & Healing after the Genocide
💬Mental Health & Well-being — Challenges & Solutions
👥Effectiveness of Individual & Group Counseling
🌀Intergenerational Trauma & "Silence Between Us" — bridging generations through story
🕰Trauma & Healing — A 30-Year Reflection

Practical Supports

  • Referrals to counseling and peer circles
  • Workshops on grief, resilience, and community care
  • Private listening sessions (by request)

Our Approach

  • Always grounded in consent, dignity, and care
  • Humura does not replace clinical services — we collaborate with qualified professionals
  • Culturally aware practitioners and peer support structures
03

Community & Belonging

Connection heals — belonging creates safety

Community BBQ
Community · Pillar 3
🔥
Pillar 3 · Community

Community BBQ

A summer tradition of unity and joy — food, music, games, and shared stories. Beneath the fun is a simple truth: being together builds trust. We host inclusive moments where people can breathe, meet, and feel at home.

🏡Open-door hospitality for families and friends
💛Space for survivor families to feel held by community
🙋Volunteer crews for setup, cooking, and clean-up
Community · Pillar 3
🌞
Pillar 3 · Community

Hope Day

An autumn gathering of remembrance and culture — workshops, panels, youth creativity, and networking. A yearly reminder that hope is a shared practice, built together, through presence, celebration, and commitment.

🎭Panel conversations and artistic expressions
🛠Skill-sharing mini-workshops for families and youth
🛒Community marketplace and information tables
04

Youth Empowerment — Media & Story

Lifting youth voices through ethical media and story

Youth Studio
Youth · Pillar 4
🎙
Pillar 4 · Youth

Podcast & Studio Pathway

Youth learn audio/video basics, interview skills, and storytelling ethics — episodes explore identity, mental health, and community life. Podcast and studio pathways encourage identity exploration, mental-health dialogue, and community learning.

🎤Intro to recording, editing, and production
Responsible storytelling and consent practices
🌐Collaboration with community media partners

Public Showcases

  • Seasonal reels and highlight nights where completed pieces are shared
  • Cross-posting with partner channels to amplify youth voices
  • Mentorship for learners who want to go deeper

Community Screenings

  • Community screenings and listening sessions open to all
  • Youth gain a platform and real audience feedback
  • A space where the next generation tells its own story
Currently Fundraising

Memorial Site Project

A visible promise: Never Again. A dedicated place in the National Capital Region where names endure, survivors gather with dignity, and future generations learn.

A calm, accessible space for remembrance ceremonies, learning visits, and quiet reflection — rooted in truth and respect. Designs centered on dignity, accessibility, and learning. Guided visits and school resources once established. Care standards for year-round upkeep.

Site identification, stakeholder outreach, and resource planning are active and ongoing. We engage partners who share the long-term vision.

🏛

A Permanent Place of Memory

We are actively fundraising and planning for a dedicated memorial space in the National Capital Region. Built by and for those who carry the memory.

Location and feasibility work with civic partners
Community consultations — survivors & families first
Funding model and stewardship plan in development
Project Development Progress
Planning phase underway — community consultation, site identification, and initial fundraising
Support This Vision →
Building Impact Together

Partnerships & Collaborations

We collaborate with institutions that advance remembrance, mental health, youth opportunity, and public education.

🏛
Commemorations & Civic Recognition
Joint programming with municipal and federal bodies to ensure public acknowledgement of the genocide and dignified commemoration.
💙
Mental Health Services
Collaboration with qualified practitioners for youth therapy access, peer circles, and culturally informed healing support.
🎙
Capacity Building & Studio Training
Governance, media training, and studio access partnerships that strengthen youth programming and community capacity.
📚
Educational Programming
Anti-denial advocacy and school outreach with humanitarian agencies, cultural organizations, and community media partners.
What Partnerships Make Possible
Shared witness strengthens accurate public memory
Survivors and families receive concrete care and support
Youth gain skills, confidence, and healthy outlets
The wider community learns to stand against hatred

Partners have included

Canadian Heritage City of Ottawa UCC Canadian Red Cross Jewish Family Services CIJA

Help Us Build
What's Next

Every program depends on the generosity and participation of our community. Your donation, your time, your presence — all of it matters.