{A three day retreat of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention Organization and District Liaison Officers(DCLO) ended on December 13 at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) headquarters with a call for the two groups to strengthen partnership for the success of community policing initiatives.
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The retreat that brought together 84 participants – 30 DCLOs and 54 youth volunteers – focused on strengthening the partnership between the two community policing groups in fighting and preventing crimes.
Ambassador Valens Munyabugisha, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, who presided over the closing of the retreat, commended the existing partnership between RNP and the people, singling out youth volunteers and a lively example of a community-centred policing.
“This retreat should be a guiding factor towards fighting and preventing crimes through strong partnership,” Amb. Munyabugisha said.
He pledged the support of the ministry and RNP to ensure that all initiatives of the youth volunteers, meant to ensure safety and security, are realised.
To realise their targets, he said, they should influence more youth to join their association to have representatives to the Village level.
The organization is composed of about 1,000 members countrywide including students, who support vulnerable communities and carry out crime prevention awareness programmes in schools and communities against drug abuse, corruption, gender and domestic violence, among others.
“Your role in building your country shouldn’t stop at anti-crime awareness and prevention alone, you should also take other leadership positions, view for various governance posts during elections and guide communities,” he added.
ACP Damas Gatare, commissioner for community policing in RNP, said the cooperation and collaboration between the force and the youth organisation is crucial in pursuit for for prevention rather than dealing with the consequences of crime.
He said that similar retreats should be periodic to review the implementation of their initiatives and exchange ideas on how to overcome challenges faced in their community policing initiatives.
Jean Bosco Mutangana, the coordinator of RYVCPO, said the retreat was so helpful in understanding more about government development programmes.
During the retreat, participants received lectures from experts and heads of institutions on varied governance and community policing programmes.
These included the role of the youth in good governance and nation building, Ndi Umunyarwanda, community policing and role of youth volunteers in enhancing democracy and stability,the best use of social media to counter crime among others.
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