A two-day holiday camp organised by Imbuto Foundation for students opened in Huye District on Monday with a call on participants to develop a culture of doing own research beyond classroom teaching.

Participants are beneficiaries gathered from Imbuto Foundation’s ‘Edified Generation’ scholarship programme.

This year, 420 students are attending the 9th holiday camp; 228 being enrolled in the scholarship programme for the first time this year and 192 being in their last year of secondary education, according to a statement.

Monday’s official opening day at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare featured special remarks by Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Sandrine Umutoni.

Umutoni urged participants on school life, advising them to always read and make own research beyond classroom learning.

"Your teachers give you basic guidelines to further learning. You need to make enough research by reading beyond what you learn in classrooms,” said Umutoni.

She also called upon students to take advantage of all opportunities at their disposal; to uplift their families and contribute to national development.

The annual camp is implemented under the Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Programme, established by Imbuto Foundation in 2007, to engage, empower and educate Rwandan youth.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth, Emmanuel Bigenimana, spoke about drug abuse and the negative influence it can have on youth.

He also spoke about the importance of Information and Communication Technology.

"On behalf of the Minister Rosemary Mbabazi, we thank IF [Imbuto Foundation], the main partner in supporting the youth in Rwanda. The ministry will continue to support you,” he said.

"Concerning youth here, you are benefiting from the current policy that supports youth, which was not the case for your parents.”

Huye District vice mayor for social affairs Christine Niyomugeni, thanked Imbuto Foundation for holding the continuous programme in her district.

She also reminded students that since they were selected, are in many ways considered protected seeds.

The holiday camp aims at empowering the scholarship recipients, by imparting life skills and positive values and attitudes, to make them grow into integral citizens.

It also aims at equipping them with the needed package, to become active agents of change among their peers.

The school’s head teacher, Celestin Rwirangira, urged students to take this opportunity to learn the necessary skills as Rwanda’s future leaders.

The students engage with speakers by using different methods of creative interactions such as group discussions and educative games.

The topics of discussion include discipline, adolescent sexual reproductive health, human trafficking, importance of saving culture as well as drug and alcohol abuse among others.

The students will also participate in a community service (Umuganda) in the host district before closure of the holiday camp.