About 300 members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention Organisation (RYVCPO), yesterday started a nine-day training workshop on how to combat crime, at the National Police College in Musanze District.

This is the second batch to attain similar skills after the first one which ended successfully in September.

The training organised by Rwanda National Police (RNP) is held under the theme; "Together in crime prevention.”

While officiating at the start of the course, General Emmanuel Bayingana, the vice-chairman, National Itorero Commission, said all youths have an obligation to protect their nation.

"We should adopt a pro-active approach in dealing with crime. This is only possible if all Rwandans especially the youth join in efforts to combat crime through awareness campaigns and providing timely information on security challenges,” Brig. Gen. Bayingana said.

"You  should work toward preventing crime before it occurs,” he added.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare, Commissioner for Community Policing observed that the youth are major partners in combating crime.

He urged them to sensitise the community  about criminal acts, including drugs and human trafficking, which he said can override personal safety and development.

"Most crimes are committed by the youth, so we need to work together to teach the young generation on the consequences of what they do and show them the way forward,” ACP Gatare said.

Jean Bosco Mutangana, the coordinator of RYVCPO, said the organisation strives to ensure that the young generation becomes patriotic and follows in the footsteps of the elders.

"I am, therefore, calling upon fellow youth to  protect what has been achieved,” Mutangana said.

During the course of the training, the youth will cover lessons like information sharing system, gender based violence, road accidents prevention, and consolidating "Ndi Umunyarwanda programme”  among others.