A total of 550 youth representatives from all districts have started an eight-day civic education training at the Nkumba Training Centre in Burera District.

While opening the training, the State Minister in charge of Culture, Edouard Bamporiki said the youth would get to learn about Rwandan values and reminded them that they are both present and future leaders of the country.

"The major Rwandan values are; loving and serving the country, the value of unity, then humility and integrity," Bamporiki told the youth.

A total of 550 youth representatives from all districts attended the civic education training at Nkumba.

"Times change, many things change, and new technologies emerge, but as our President said, Rwandan values never change. So, the youth should know that with these values we can achieve development,” he said.

Also present at the official opening were Dancille Nyirarugero, the Governor of the Northern Province, and Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira, the Mayor of Burera District.

The youth representatives who are being trained were elected in the recent local government elections. They represent youth groups from the village to the national level.

Bamporiki said the training presented the youth representatives with an opportunity to draw lessons from Rwanda's past and cultural values to shape the country’s development.

He added that for eight days, the youth would take part in practical exercises and would learn from the people who fought Rwanda's Liberation war to understand where the country is coming from, where it is and where the country would like to be in the future.

Some of the youth participants said they were ready to learn about Rwandan culture and values.

"While here, I hope to learn a lot about the Rwandan culture and leadership values, which will help me work with fellow youth back home to uplift our community,” Jean Claude Munyemfura, a representative from Nyabihu district, said.

For Claudine Tumukunde, from Ruhango district, the civic education programme, also known as Itorero, would enlighten her about Rwanda's history and the achievements of the leadership in order to sustained them.

The training was organized by the Ministry of Youth and Culture in partnership with the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement. 

It is in line with the government's seven-year National Strategy for Transformation, which prioritizes the "[reinforcement of] Rwandan culture and values as a foundation for peace and unity."

According to figures from the Ministry of Youth and Culture, about 118,000 youth, known as Inkomezamihigo, undertook the civic education programme 2014 and 2018.