A group comprising 300 young Rwandans who volunteered to fight crime in their communities has been urged to work closely with local leaders and security organs to prevent crimes in their respective areas.

The call was made yesterday during the closure of a 10-day training of the youth, including fresh graduates, students from high learning institutions and those in high school.

The training took place at the National Police College in Musanze District.

Participants were trained on how to combat various crimes through information sharing and helping their communities not to involve in crimes.

They are the second intake of members of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Crimes Prevention (RYVCPO) and were trained in programmes such as information sharing system; fighting gender based violence and any other violence, road accidents prevention, and consolidating Ndi Umunyarwanda programme, among others.

Role of the youth

The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana, said the youth can play a core role in preventing crime in any society.

Harelimana said the youth, who constitute the biggest number of the population, are mostly the ones who get involved in various crimes and the trained youth are in good position to help their colleagues shun and prevent crimes.

"Those who indulge in crime are mostly youth; approximately 99 per cent of those who are involved in drug trade and consumption are youth. You are the ones whom they play and interact with so you have to positively change them,” he added.

The minister said the country is where it is because of the youth who gave up everything to liberate the country and stop the Genocide, and challenged the new generation to sustain these achievements and work harder to take the country forward.

The youth committed to using the acquired skills to prevent crimes in their respective communities.

"We have learnt a lot from youth volunteer programme, we have learnt how to prevent crime through information sharing and how to effectively prevent a crime from occurring. I am positive we will make an impact in our communities,” said Irene Dusabemariya, one of the trainees.

The Minister for Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, urged them to not only prevent crime among the youth and other Rwandans but also help curb violence and injustice by some local leaders who do not help residents, especially the vulnerable.

Some local leaders tend to put their interests before those of the people they serve and instead divert any assistance earmarked for the poor towards themselves and their relatives, he said.