Ondangwa: Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has called on Namibia's youth to take responsibility for building a future founded on peace, justice, and unity, saying genocide remembrance must strengthen the country's commitment to reconciliation and historical truth.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Steenkamp spoke at the national Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration in Ondangwa on Thursday, emphasizing the role of young people in rejecting hatred, discrimination, and division while preserving the memory of the 1904-1908 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people. She urged the youth to transform painful memories into a constructive national purpose.

Steenkamp highlighted that the remembrance of the genocide is not solely about reflecting on the past but also about accepting responsibility for the future. She stressed that the atrocities committed during German colonial rule left lasting scars on Namibia, advocating for education as a means to preserve historical truth and promote reconciliation.

Steenkamp stated that education should empower young people with historical understanding, ethical leadership, and respect for human dignity. She called for schools, cultural institutions, and heritage programs to continue preserving the truth of Namibia's past while promoting peace, tolerance, and reconciliation.

The minister described genocide remembrance as a national responsibility, emphasizing that the suffering endured by affected communities is part of Namibia's collective history. She noted that despite immense suffering, the people preserved their identity, culture, and hope, underscoring that the pain of one part of the nation ultimately becomes the pain of the entire nation.

Genocide Remembrance Day is dedicated to honoring the memory of the victims of the 1904-1908 genocide perpetrated against the Ovaherero and Nama communities during German colonial rule in Namibia.