It is that time of the year again where some people draw up their "New Year's resolutions”, which can be a powerful tool for personal growth and improvement- if, of course, taken seriously.

These often include fitness goals,learning new languages, traveling to new places, buying houses or cars, among others. Not all the time, however, community development is included.

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To be fair, these are personal goals, but sometimes, collective achievements can be more sustainable and beneficial to you, everyone around you, and maybe future generations.

In our respective villages, for instance, we can work together and build an Early Childhood Development Center, we could also contribute for better drainage systems, youth centers, name it. There is much that can be done and results can be equally fulfilling, or even more.

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Centering community while thinking about the future is important because it inspires collective action that benefits us all. Together, people could address climate change, social injustice, or economic inequality, simply by working together.

Communities that have a shared vision are also resilient because they have strong social networks that can provide support during times of crisis. Is there any better place to live as a Rwandan, than where you have a sense of responsibility and where you benefit?

Working together is rooted deep in our culture. It ensures a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable future, where members of that community are happy to live. So when planning for next year, it wouldn’t hurt to keep Rwanda in your New Year’s resolution.