WESTERN PROVINCE

KARONGI — Unity and reconciliation clubs are the key to unity of Rwandan youth especially students, an official said.

Jerome Niyonagize, Western Province coordinator of School debating clubs, said this on Saturday, during the ETO Kibuye students’ club show that featured different activities at the school campus.

The initiative of school of debates was initiated by the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), an organisation that fosters peace through dialogue and consensus.

The initiative seeks to sensitise youth to fight negation of genocide crimes, acquiring culture of tolerance and reconciliation among them selves.

During the show, the ETO Kibuye School of Debate Club played different songs and recited poems focusing on reconciliation and tolerance in the Rwandan society.

Claude Ndagijimana, a senior five student and a member of the club at ETO Kibuye, said ever since he joined the club, he had experienced a lot of changes in his life.

"I wonder why such clubs never existed before. For the time I have been a member of this club, I have learnt a lot about reconciliation.  With this initiative, genocide ideology will be no more in Rwandan students and youth in general,” he said.

The programme has been rolled out in 25 schools country wide and it is conducted under two different clubs; Tuvugane Club and Amahoro Club- all made up of 30 students.

Members usually hold monthly meeting with an experienced facilitator in their areas of concern.

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