President Paul Kagame on May 7 urged youth volunteers to foster personal development, know each other, and join efforts to achieve the desired collective development in the country.

He was speaking at the 10-year celebration of Youth Volunteers that convened 7,000 young people from across the country at BK Arena, in Kigali.

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"Where you have to put a lot of efforts, where it all begins, the foundation of it all, is in building yourselves as individuals, each one of you. Build yourselves, and keep on that volunteerism spirit. Your willingness alone is not enough, you have to build your capabilities and equip yourself with skills so that you can put in practice everything you are willing to do,” President Kagame told the youth volunteers.

According to the United Nations, volunteers, drawn together by solidarity, develop solutions to urgent development challenges and for the common good.

Kagame thanked the volunteers for doing the work for which they are not remunerated, nor thanked for, and still commit to performing.

Their selfless works have been beneficial for the country, he noted, especially during the Covid-19 period.

However, he noted that no person can work in isolation and be able to do all the things required to benefit others. While they work together, he advised, the volunteers should go further to create interpersonal relationships to an extent of supporting each other without waiting for government intervention.

"Solutions have to come from within and, where necessary, external support can be given but it all derives from the interpersonal relationships created.”

The Head of State noted that Rwanda’s young population has the capacity and will that can help them, and their families, to achieve more and consequently, develop the country.

"The difference from other countries that Rwanda should impose is the ability to develop without leaving anyone behind.”

Volunteerism can only bear results if done, he said, with a mindset of regarding oneself as a collaborative agent with the government along with moral values instilled by the family.

There are at least 1.9 million Rwandan youth volunteers across the country involved in different development activities such as building houses for the vulnerable, preventing malnutrition, and raising awareness about different public health issues.

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Abdallah Utumatwishima, the Minister of Youth and Arts, commended the youth for their selfless dedication to building the country and becoming change-makers.

"In the journey of 10 years, the world was shocked with the Covid-19 pandemic followed by disasters brought about by climate change that claimed the lives of many people. We are grateful for youth volunteers’ contributions through physical and mental work shown as we navigated the challenges,” he said.

The minister recalled a time when the Head of State visited the Covid-19 command post of youth volunteers and thanked them for selflessly helping the country in difficult times despite knowing the risks involved in exposing themselves to Covid-19. He said that the Ministry of Health plans to appoint youth community health workers and urged different leaders to address difficult situations so as to ease the work of youth volunteers.

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The youth shared their experiences in the journey towards self-development and doing volunteerism work, as well as interacted with the President on various matters of concern in line with the country’s development.

Assistant Inspector of Police Yvette Tumukunde Mutabazi, shared her journey in joining the Rwanda National Police despite the discouragement she initially faced.

The 27-year-old officer who now teaches at the National Police College noted that social security is achieved through collaboration with committed young people through Rwanda youth volunteers in community policing.

She said that the journey of building the country is just starting given the tasks at hand. She encouraged the youth to use their talents and knowledge to contribute to development and fight against crimes and security threats, among other social challenges.

Emmanuel Niyonsenga, a fashion designer and founder of a brand focused on elevating Rwandan Heritage through contemporary fashion, spoke about how he started his journey in the fashion industry over the past four years and went through an accelerator of Art Rwanda Ubuhanzi, a televised nationwide talent search project implemented by Imbuto Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth since 2018.

As noted, the talent search project pushed him to tap into his talent potential and improve his livelihood and that of the people that depend on him.

Inspired by his mother who was a tailor, Niyonsenga now employs 15 permanent staff and produces fashion clothing for celebrities.

He showcased his products at the inaugural Kigali Triennial festival, in February.