NYARUGENGE - First Lady Jeannette Kagame has challenged young professionals to rise to the occasion and be the change Rwanda wants to see, since they have the capacity to be agents of change.

Mrs.Kagame made the call on Sunday during the Youth Empowerment Workshop aimed at empowering the youth to make informed decisions and preparing young professionals to become future leaders of Rwanda.

The event which took place at Kigali Serena Hotel was organised by Imbuto Foundation which is run by the Office of First Lady.

Addressing over 200 young professionals, the First Lady said that the youth form a core part of the society, consisting of young and vibrant people who are capable of inciting change through making critical decisions. She noted that given what the country has gone through in the past years, the input of the youth is important.

‘We need to change how we have lived in the past and this is your task as young people. Our Legacy revolves around hard work and effective work which requires you to have a positive attitude towards work,” she advised.

She warned the youth of complacency and laziness because what they do during their youthful days determines what they will become in the future, urging them to set their priorities higher.

Mrs. Kagame also called upon the youth to desist from the culture of mediocrity and giving excuses for their failures, urging them to instead be more innovative and creative in whatever they do saying that they have the capacity to ignite change.

The First Lady stressed the importance of empowering the youth, noting that through empowerment of young persons the society is promoting human rights and it’s also a means of making the youth reach their potential.

In the same light, the Minister of Sports and Culture Joseph Habineza encouraged Rwandan Youth to set their goals high and always strive to leave a positive mark on whatever they lay their hands on.

"Be ambitious, always try to improve everyday, be principled and always have a passion to do things right and in time, don’t accept mediocrity in all its forms,” Habineza encouraged.

He commended the First Lady for her efforts to empower young persons in the country, noting that she is the first one to have this kind of initiative.

The Kigali Forum is part of the countrywide Youth Leadership and Mentorship Programme organised by the First Lady’s office in conjunction with MISPOC, supported by the UNFP/UNDP and it’s aimed at forging a platform for promoting sustainable leadership opportunities for young Rwandans.

Participants who included young professionals between 25 and 40 received lectures from speakers who included Dr Anastase Shyaka on the theme; ‘Carrying forward a Legacy’ and from Zaina Nyiramatama on the theme; ‘Forging a Culture of Transparency and Dialogue.

The Kigali forum is the second in series of workshops which will climax in December. In attendance were several Ministers, heads of government institutions and representative’s from UNFPA/UNDP.

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