RWAMAGANA - Imbuto Foundation yesterday kicked off its second quarter Youth Empowerment Workshops (YEWs) across the country in  Rwamagana district.

This is part of Imbuto Foundation Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program aimed at acting as a platform for promoting sustainable opportunities for young Rwandan leaders of tomorrow, and in turn, contributing to the development of the country.

Imbuto Foundation, under the leadership of its Chairperson, the First Lady Jeannette Kagame, started the programme this year.

YEWs fall under the Foundations Youth Leadership and Mentorship Programs, and will be carried out by the Foundation in partnership with the Ministries of Youth and that of Sports and Culture.

"What we have seen and heard, in our culture there is a way we communicate, which is not clear. Yet, the way we exchange views starts with passing a message, which has to be improved and be done with self-esteem. And good communication will build our country,” Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Radegonde Ndejuru said.

The YEWs taking place this month will be under the theme; "Using Communication as a Tool of Professionalism and Self-Esteem.”

Various sub-topics under the theme will be defined and articulated by selected Rwandan speakers who are opinion leaders in their respective fields.

Ndejuru noted that the workshops were initiated as a way of building capacity among the youth through several topics.

She also pointed out that the workshops are aimed at young Rwandan professionals between the ages of 25 – 40, with the objectives of: conveying messages of self-dependence, wealth creation, self-confidence, building important national values, instilling a culture of excellence, and encouraging implementation of ideas that can develop the country.

"We started by asking participants how they practiced what they learnt in the first workshops. Some of them told us they carried out workshops, formed cooperatives and many said they have used the knowledge they acquired in several other ways.”

Ndejuru noted that in August, over 800 people who have participated in the workshops will meet, and out of the meeting recommendations will be made. Then, in December those who will have done excellent work will be awarded.

Jean Pierre Karabaranga, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture and Sports , requested the youth to work hard and liberate themselves from poverty.

He tasked them to use the knowledge acquired from the workshop to help in implementing performance contracts, which will make the vision 2020 achievable.

The first quarter YEWs of 2009 took place across the country in March, with the overall theme – "What Does it Mean To Be A Rwandan Today?” 

One of the participants, representing the Executive Secretary of Nyarugenge Sector, Jean de Dieau Muyengeza said that in the first workshop, he learnt that as a leader, there is a lot one can learn from those he leads. He noted that all people are valuable and deserve to be listened to.

Kigali City Mayor, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, and Senator Wellars Gasamagera, gave presentations on the YEWs’ theme at the launch. The workshops will take place in all five provinces of the country.

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