The fourth intake of members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing (RYVCP), yesterday, began a week-long training on crime prevention at National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District.

The opening of the training, that falls within the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between RYVCP and Rwanda National Police (RNP), was presided over by the National Coordinator of youth volunteers, Justus Kangwagye.

The training was organised by RNP in partnership with the National Itorero Commission.

"Serving a nation requires commitment and dedication, which is the main reason you are here. You came for the training because you are committed to serving your nation which is the right choice,” Kangwagye told the 400 participants.

He added that one of the ambitions of RYVCP is to take Rwanda to another level in terms of public safety.

"You should always reflect on the fact that this country was liberated by men and women who had limited resources. They were driven by the fact that they believed in what they stood up for. You should as well be as courageous as our liberators. You are in a position of achieving anything you want if you are committed to it,” he added.

Marie-Claire Uwamariya, the vice mayor of Musanze District in charge of Social Affairs, who also attended the official opening, pointed out that such training serves interests of the nation.

"Upon completion of this training, you will have a good understanding of the country’s security situation and your role in preserving it,” she said.

One of the trainees, Jean Damascene Mudahemuka, said: "We are proud of the fact that we are going to acquire knowledge that will help us understand how we can collectively contribute to safety of our nation and how to cooperate with security organs.”

During the training, members of RYVCP will be equipped with knowledge on several issues, ranging from social, political, historical to economic affairs.

The training comes three months after RYVCP held their first ever national congress as it seeks to increase its membership to one million in the next one year, up from 20, 000 currently.

RYVCP, that is composed of secondary and university students and those who have since graduated, was created in 2013 by the youth themselves with an aim of contributing to the socio-economic transformation through fighting and preventing crimes in partnership with police and local authorities.

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