GAKO - Rwandan students from various universities and other institutions of higher learning outside the country yesterday completed a ten-day civic education training popularly known as Ingando.

The training held at Gako Military Academy attracted students living in Germany, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and the United States of America.

It was jointly organized by the Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR), the Ministry of Education and the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC).

Officiating at the closing ceremony, Education minister Dr Daphrose Gahakwa commended the need to empower youth as they are the future leaders of this country.

"The most important resource that we have is young people because they are in position to find solutions to create lasting peace and development,” she said.

She explained the strategies taken by the ministry to implement new policies aimed at improving the level of education in the country.

"Our success will depend on the extent to which we appreciate the importance of such education and I have no doubt that all of you will be good ambassadors of the country wherever you go,” Gahakwa told the students.

She challenged the future generation to have self confidence and promote love for their country by understanding government’s goals and possible obstacles that may come along.

SFAR’s Director General, Emmanuel Muvunyi, hailed the government for bringing together and creating a forum for students studying in different countries and those studying within.

"This has also helped students, parents and the government come together to discuss a combined role in the bringing up and the education of Rwandan children,” Muvunyi said.

He stressed this process as a way of informing and refreshing the minds of students on current issues in the development of Rwanda, challenges and future plans in order to keep them updated of their potential role and participation.

Col Kamili Karege, the Commandant of the military academy said the students had trained in important issues including military drills and weapon handling, genocide ideology and how to fight it and civil-military relations among others.

"They have mastered skills in conflict resolution and management, basic national and personal security and the role of the international community in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis,” he said.

Lambert Hakizimana, a student currently studying at Technical University Kaiserslauten in Germany expressed hope that the program has far reaching positive results.

"I must do everything I can to encourage all my brothers and sisters to attend the next training in July and August holidays,” Hakizimana vowed.

This is the second batch of Rwandan students in the Diaspora to attend the training the first having been held last year. The training that had previously been reserved for students in local public universities exposes students to issues of national concern.

Ends