Editor,

Rwandan students currently studying in the Netherlands have resolved to be prime agents of change in Rwanda. Meeting in one of their biggest get-together events last Saturday at the University of Wageningen, the students discussed some of the developments in Rwanda and stated their commitment to be part of the transformation process in the country both during and after their studies.

While presiding as guest of honour at the event, the Chargé d’affaires at the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands Mr. Gahamanyi Parfait called upon the students to be Rwanda’s ambassadors wherever they are.

He urged them to exercise their civic rights in the forthcoming presidential elections noting that citizen participation in the political process is what makes society a strong democracy.

Rwandan students in the Netherlands have formally formed an interaction and advocacy group known as the Rwanda-Netherlands Students Association – RWASA, whose main objective is "to serve as a platform for interaction.” This has consequently enabled them to participate in the socio-economic and cultural development of Rwanda.

It encouraging to know that Rwanda’s performance in education has been exponentially increasing after the 1994 Genocide and the Netherlands is one of Rwanda’s partners in the education sector.

Higher education has continued to play a very prominent role in development since it spurs faster economic growth and drives social welfare transformation processes by boosting innovation, production and competitiveness through specialised knowledge and skills.
 
Felicien Mwumvaneza,
Master’s student, International Development
Wageningen University- The Netherlands