Rwandans in Canada last Saturday committed to embrace the vision to have a vibrant and participatory Diaspora community. 

This was during a one-day retreat in Toronto held under the stewardship of the Rwandan community in Toronto. According to a statement, the retreat was also attended by Shakilla Umutoni, chargée d’affaires at Rwanda's high commission in Canada.

"The Rwandan community abroad has a huge role to play in Rwanda’s development. Having a stronger and unified structure would be a great foundation for that development. Such a meeting should define a common vision for the Rwandan community abroad,” Umutoni said.

Théophile Rwigimba, the chairperson of Rwandan Community Abroad – Canadian Chapter, said Canada has various associations of the Rwandan community yet to yield any results due to divided efforts.

"The main reasons of the meeting was to share ideologies that would govern the entire Rwandan community in Canada, and find ways through which we would reach to leaders of various associations operating in Canada so that together we can have a unified cause,” said Rwigimba.

This was the first time that leaders of Rwanda community in Canada have convened to deliberate on ways through which they can contribute to the development of their country.

Alice Kabagire Cyusa, the head of Rwanda Diaspora Global Network (RDGN), the umbrella organisation of Rwandan communities abroad, said the meeting was an indicator that the Diaspora is working towards bringing Rwandans abroad under one vision, which is to be part of Rwanda’s social-economic development.

"The Rwandan community abroad is Rwanda’s most profitable export product. If we all come together, we can contribute more to our country’s development, especially due the fact that Diaspora’s remittances are much higher than net earnings of tea and coffee to gether,” said Cyusa.

According to the National Bank of Rwanda, the Diaspora remittances in 2014 stood at $174 millions.

Participants committed to mobilise Rwandans in Canada together, according to the statement.

According to Cyusa, the meeting was timely since it comes at a time when the Rwandan community abroad is gearing up for the Diaspora homecoming events and the 2015 Umushyikirano due to take place in Kigali next month.