On the 32nd anniversary of Rwanda's Liberation Day, young Rwandans express a mix of pride in their country's advancements and lingering pain from past atrocities. In Kigali, souvenir shop owner Claudette Kamikazi, born post-genocide, experiences a paradoxical sense of survival and guilt as her father remains imprisoned for his role in the mass violence that claimed around 800,000 lives. President Paul Kagame's government has emphasized Rwanda's recovery as more than genocide rebuilding, focusing on unity, economic transformation, and the legacy of the liberation struggle. The economy has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by tourism, technology, mining, and agribusiness, with young people expected to carry this vision forward. However, not everyone benefits from this progress; 26-year-old Christopher Teganya, a recent master's graduate and the unemployed, believes more needs to be done to address remaining challenges. Meanwhile, Rwanda's transformation has drawn criticism for restrictions on political opposition, freedom of expression, and civic space, with the ongoing trial of opposition leader Victoire Ingabire dividing opinion. For Sabrine Gatesi, a 30-year-old nurse, liberation encompasses healing from invisible wounds that still linger in survivors, as mental health professionals remain scarce three decades after the genocide. Despite these challenges, many young Rwandans draw hope from the nation's commitment to avoid repeating the divisions that fueled the genocide. For Kamikazi, this hope symbolizes a liberation yet to be fully realized. The government views Liberation Day as an ongoing national project aiming to transform Rwanda into a high-income country by 2050.