To mark this year’s commemoration, UNIC Lusaka embarked on a two day educational outreach tour in Kabwe, Central Province from 8-9 April under the theme “To console one another”. The educational institutions visited were Nkrumah Teachers College and Mulungushi University in Kabwe.

The target groups were mainly the students at these institutions but members of staff and other non-academic staff who were interested in learning and knowing about the Rwanda Genocide where also present. The topic under discussion generated a lot of debate and lively discussion.

During the educational tour, there was a video screening of the documentary “Duhozanye”, which shows the steps the people of Rwanda and particularly a group of women, have taken to help each other and the communities they hail from heal the wounds of the past and the measures they have taken to make a better future for themselves and other surviving members of their communities.  

The presentations were done by UNIC’s, National Information Officer and Team Assistant who gave a synopsis on the Rwanda Genocide and the role of the United Nations. Other activities included a question and answer session and the screening of the video” Duhozanye” which set the stage for the group discussion. 

A total of 150 students from the two educational institutions were reached during the tour.

Moment of silence observed in honour of heroes who have lost their lives to save others

Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, an important reminder of the universal lessons of the Holocaust, an evil which cannot simply be consigned to the past and forgotten. The theme for this year was “Rescue during the Holocaust - the Courage to Care”, the aim of which was to remember and also raise awareness about the courageous and selfless individuals who risked their own lives to save others during the Holocaust and other genocides elsewhere.

About a 120 people were present at the event including the British High Commissioner, representatives from the Messianic Jewish Community, Jerusalem House of Prayer, Orthodox Jewish Community, Universal Peace Federation Zambia Chapter, and 4 high schools: Matero Girls, Rhodes Park, Thornpark and Munali Boys and Girls.

In an interactive session with the audience, UNIC Lusaka's National Information Officer gave a brief background of the Holocaust and what transpired during the Second World War and gave insight on this year’s theme. In addition, he gave an introduction to the film that was screened “The Rescuers” which uncovers the largely unknown stories of 13 heroic and courageous diplomats who, at tremendous personal cost, saved tens of thousands of Jews during World War II.

After the screening, there was a moment of silence observed in honor of the diplomats and other heroes who have risked their lives to rescue others.

On 26 November the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Lusaka organized a media launch for the 2012 UNCTAD Least Developed Countries Report. 

Twenty journalists from print and electronic media represented in Zambia, UNCT members and representatives of Zambia International Trade and Investment Centre (ZITIC) were present for the report launched under the theme: “Harnessing Remittances and Diaspora Knowledge to Build Productive Capacities”.

During the launch Mr. Sebastian Kopulande, CEO of ZITIC gave highlights of the findings of the report and responded to questions from the media. Overview of the report highlights the following issues:

Some of the media houses present included YAR Fm (Radio), Zambia News and Information Service, Times of Zambia, Post Newspapers, Sky Fm, Radio Phoenix, Hot Fm and Daily Mail.

On October 23, as part of the UN4U outreach campaign, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Lusaka organized a talk on UN activities, both global and  in Zambia. This presentation took place at Matero Girls High School with 60 students and staff members in attendance.

UNIC National Information Officer Mickie Mumba addressed the students, who later had a chance to ask questions directly to a person working for the United Nations. 

“Post-2015” was highlighted throughout the Day with the official launch of the Zambia Consultations on the MDGs and Post-2015 Development Vision and a documentary “Zambian voices on MDGs and Beyond” was screened with the theme “Celebrating Zambia and the future it wants”.

Also, an originally composed song relating to post-2015 and the future Zambia wants was performed by one of the country’s popular artists Danny Siulapwa.