The Gisimba family’s tradition of helping and saving lives began with Damas Gisimba’s grandfather, Melchior Gisimba, after World War II. During a devastating famine in Rwanda in 1946, known as Ruzagayura, Melchior, a devout Christian, opened his home to children and vulnerable people, offering them food, water, and a sense of community. His legacy of compassion was carried on by his son Peter and daughter-in-law Dancille, who founded an orphanage in the early 1980s. This commitment to service was passed down to their eldest son, Damas, who dedicated his life to continuing his family’s mission of caring for those in need after the passing of his parents in the mid-1980s. The Gisimba family’s dedication to helping others has left an enduring legacy of love, selflessness, and protection.
Under Damas’s direction, the Gisimba Memorial Center became a symbol of compassion and care, not only for orphans but also for countless others in need of assistance. However, his legacy is most strongly defined by his courageous actions during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi. As violence erupted across Rwanda, Damas Gisimba took in hundreds of children and adults fleeing the massacres, offering them sanctuary at his orphanage in Nyamirambo, Kigali. Despite the constant threat from militia forces, who sought to exterminate those under his care, Gisimba refused to abandon them and hid them in secret places around the compound.
“We were no longer afraid of death, because we lived with death, because death had already surrounded us. Death already surrounded us; death was walking around. So, I was no longer afraid.”
One of the people he saved, Isaac, spent 98 days with five others in this room, measuring just six square meters. “At least once every two days, Damas came to visit us. He would give us information, console us, tell us not to be afraid, not to worry, that everything would be all right,” recalls Issac. Damas was willing to sacrifice his own life to protect the people who had taken refuge at the center. Through his relentless efforts, and with the help of an American aid worker named Carl Wilkens, Gisimba managed to save 405 lives, moving many to safety when his orphanage was targeted for destruction.
“I couldn’t panic. Because if I did panic, I wasn’t going to do anything to help the people who came to me.”
Gisimba’s heroism during the genocide earned him widespread recognition in Rwanda and beyond. He was awarded the Presidential Order of Umurinzi, meaning “protector,” by President Paul Kagame, acknowledging his bravery and the lives he saved. In addition to this high honor, he became the recipient of the national medal of the Campaign Against Genocide, recognizing individuals who played critical roles in protecting the Tutsi during that horrific period.
After the genocide, Damas continued his commitment to justice and reconciliation. He served as the head of a local Gacaca court, a community-based justice system aimed at addressing the crimes of the genocide while promoting healing within the community. Despite facing numerous threats for his work in holding perpetrators accountable, Gisimba remained steadfast in his dedication to justice and rebuilding Rwanda.
Damas Gisimba’s legacy also includes his ongoing efforts to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth. Recognizing the importance of education and personal development, he established the Gisimba After School Program Initiative, which provided children and young adults with opportunities to explore their skills and talents through educational, recreational, cultural, and arts activities. His belief that every child had the potential to grow into a capable and active citizen of Rwanda was central to his work, and he dedicated himself to creating spaces where children could thrive, learn, and be loved.
Damas Gisimba passed away on June 4, 2023, at the age of 61, but his legacy lives on. He will be remembered as a protector, a selfless humanitarian, and a symbol of resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. The lives he saved during Rwanda’s darkest days stand as a testament to his bravery, while his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and promoting justice leaves an enduring mark on his community and country.
Photo: © Justine Brabant