{{President Paul Kagame on Sunday called upon the youth of Rwanda to fulfill their responsibilities with diligence and commitment in order to make a difference in their lives and their country because they are the strength and the future of Rwanda. }}
President Kagame was addressing over 800 Rwandan youth at the closing of the Youth Connekt Dialogue which took place at Serena Kigali Hotel under the theme: “The Promise of a Post Genocide Generation”.
“We must think carefully about what we invest in our youth because a seed that is not well nurtured will not blossom. You must look beyond your individual interest because you are not just individuals, you are the nation. You must look beyond education and ensure that each of you uses your knowledge to build, not destroy your nation. Genocide was not committed by only the uneducated. The educated also used their knowledge to kill.”
The Youth Connekt Dialogue was hosted by Imbuto Foundation aimed at providing a platform for young people to address a dimension of unity and reconciliation that will free their hearts and minds – truth and trust.
The forum aimed at stimulating open but responsible expression, with the ultimate goal of creating trust amongst Rwanda’s youth.
The First Lady and Chairperson of Imbuto Foundation Mrs. Jeannette Kagame set the tone for the forum in her opening remarks. For the remainder of the forum, various speakers challenged and inspired 800 youth from all over Rwanda on issues related to Rwandan history, the price tag on leadership, the struggle that set us free and the journey towards healing.
A cross section of speakers shared testimonies with the audience in line with the healing process.
Throughout the month of June, mini youth dialogues were held in 15 districts where issues of trust and truth were evident among the youth.
All dialogues, including this one, were organized in partnership with MYICT & Arts for Peace and with the support of MINISPOC, MIGEPROF, MINALOC, MINEDUC, CNLG, NYC, & NURC.
Through a series of empowerment forums, Imbuto Foundation has illustrated the important role of youth in terms of driving the country forward.
So far, under its Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Program, Imbuto Foundation has held 18 forums on numerous themes that directly affect the youth such as professionalism, economic self-reliance, financial management, values and public speaking.
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