Thirty-two years after the end of the devastating genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, young Rwandans grapple with the country's progress, pain, and hope as they celebrate Liberation Day. Kigali, the bustling capital city, is a testament to Rwanda's growth, with its thriving tourism industry attracting tourists worldwide. However, for Claudette Kamikazi, a 29-year-old souvenir shop owner born after the genocide, the past remains deeply intertwined with her present. Her father, convicted of his role in the genocide and serving a life sentence since she was a toddler, serves as a constant reminder of the country's darkest chapter. President Paul Kagame, who led the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) to military victory on Liberation Day in 1994, has positioned Rwanda's recovery as more than just rebuilding after the genocide. His government emphasizes a long-term national project centered on unity, economic transformation, and the legacy of the liberation struggle. The economy has grown steadily over the past decade due to investments in tourism, technology, mining, and agribusiness, with young people, who make up more than 65% of the population, expected to carry this vision forward. However, not everyone feels the benefits of Rwanda's progress. Unemployment remains high among youth, with approximately 14% of young people jobless according to the latest government survey. Christopher Teganya, a 26-year-old master's degree holder, laments the challenges that remain and calls for more action from the government. For many Rwandans like Sabrine Gatesi, a 30-year-old nurse, healing from the mental scars of the genocide is an ongoing process. Mental health professionals remain in short supply, with one in five people living with a mental health disorder, and the figure rising to more than half among genocide survivors. The Rwandan government views Liberation Day as a symbol of its ambitious vision to transform the country into a high-income nation by 2050. Despite the challenges, many young Rwandans draw hope from the country's determination to avoid returning to the divisions that fueled the genocide. Kamikazi finds solace in this determination and sees it as a beacon of hope for her future.