Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, urged Rwandan youth living abroad to contribute to Rwanda’s progress, saying that a country develops if its citizens are committed to it.
Kabarebe said this on Monday, July 22, in Kigali as he welcomed more than 50 Rwandan youth from the diaspora who are in the country for a two-week tour to explore its culture and history.
The young Rwandans are the fourth cohort of the annual Rwanda Youth Tour, which attracts members of the Rwandan community abroad aged 18 to 25.
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"Thirty years ago, when we had just stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, we had one question in our mind, What would our young people be like,” said Kabarebe, who was part of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), which liberated the country from decades of ethnic discrimination, which culminated into a genocide that claimed more than one million lives.
"What would they be thinking of, what would their attitudes be, and what would their strengths be 30 years later? Some of us are happy and what gives us energy is that youth we expected to have after three decades, is the kind of youth we have today,” he said.
"Love your country and work for it. That should be the only reason you are staying in the diaspora. What else would you be staying abroad for if not for the search of knowledge and best practices that will help you and your country? There is no other reason for you to stay outside,” he added.
He assured them that they have the full support of their country and that they will determine its future, stressing the importance of self-reflection and their contribution to the country’s socioeconomic goals. "It is worth it to do it,” he said.
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During the tour, the young people will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial, Campaign against Genocide Museum, King’s Palace Museum, Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park, Akagera National Park, Kimisagara Youth Centre, among many other place, where they will get to learn about Rwanda’s cultural heritage and history.
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Minister of State for Youth and Arts Sandrine Umutoni noted that the government values the contribution of the youth as it strives to achieve economic development.
"We believe that Rwanda is a proof of concept. Rwanda was liberated by young people in their 20s and 30s,” Umutoni said.
"What we’re asking each one of you today is to realize your potential. Yes, it is scary, and I don’t mean to be patronizing because we've all gone through the phase of not being sure how it’s going to happen or what it means to fully embrace your Rwandan identity.
But you have so much to offer, and all we’re asking is for you to give us a chance to dive into that potential,” she said.
Umutoni noted that the question of national identity is taking an interesting turn in various places.
"You are at a crossroads in your lives where you have to make decisions. We ask that you base those decisions on research, knowledge, and taking the time to understand the causes of political shifts and changes in socioeconomic factors around you. Never think it’s over,” she said.
"As you travel around the country, you will see some challenges. I urge you not to consider those challenges as something for others to solve. If we all thought that way, some issues would never have been faced.
"Use the knowledge and expertise you have to find a way to address these challenges at your own level,” she added.
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Youth weigh in
Ruby Teta Rugira, who lives in the UK, said she was excited to learn more about Rwanda’s culture and her background.
"I come to Rwanda frequently but I haven’t toured or learned the history,” Rugira said.
"It’s a pleasure to be part of this community and get to experience part of Rwanda that I’ve never seen before. Mostly, I hope to learn about the pre-1994 Genocide against the Tutsi period because we’ve learnt more about the Genocide and post-Genocide era.
17-year-old Joshua Munyandamutsa from Canada echoed a similar sentiment, saying he came to Rwanda to learn about its history, meet his people, and explore the landscape.
Munyandamutsa said he looked forward to "a big adventure.”