Young Leaders have pledged to champion efforts to prevent crime and corruption in their respective communities and ensure the gains made by the country in the areas of peace and security are consolidated.

The youth made the pledge on Tuesday, during the closure of a ten-day civic education training at the National Ubutore Development Centre - Nkumba in Burera District.

The training served as a platform for them to learn more about Rwandan history, patriotism, Ndi Umunyarwanda progamme as well as other development programmes.

During the event, different officials said while the past generation fought for peace and security with some paying the ultimate price to make the country what it is today, the current generation’s task is of sustaining the gains made thus far.

They urged the youth to work hard and fight vices like drug abuse, gender based violence, human trafficking and corruption, among others, that impede development.

"The training helped us understand better some of the issues I only took for granted. I will use the acquired skills to prevent crime in my area. I am committed to working with others to ensure the vices are curbed,” said Canisius Habyarimana from Rwamagana.

Habyarimana, a teacher, said he would influence his students and other youth to change for the better.

Grace Kaberuka, from Nyagatare District, said she was ready to support other youth as a mentor to bring back Rwandan values and help nurture the youth for a better future.

"I am committed to helping my compatriots build a better country. This will happen through fighting crime and uprooting the culture of impunity among Rwandans,” Kaberuka said.

The youth also vowed to help fellow youth embrace the culture of saving, joining and operating in cooperatives.Addressing the trainees, the Minister for Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, urged the youth to build on what is in place and ensure that sustainable development and peace are achieved.

Kaboneka told the youth that while young people of their age offered the ultimate sacrifice to stop the Genocide against the Tutsi two decades ago, theirs is not a big task because all they need is to work hard to develop the country.

He said for Rwanda to alleviate poverty and attain the middle income status that it is aspiring for, the youth should have an upper hand.