THE Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth has urged the visiting commonwealth youth to work hard to develop their nations.

Edward Kalisa was speaking at the closure of the 10-day programme dubbed Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme that attracted over 38 youth from Commonwealth member states. The programme focused on international understanding, peace building and conflict resolution skills.

"Young people have got fresh minds to enable clear thinking, and are energetic and ambitious towards developing themselves and their nations,” he said.
Kalisa urged them to create a network among themselves as well as develop mentorship programmes that would enable them to learn from each other

"Youth are potential leaders who can influence their peers, families, communities and countries positively towards development,” he noted.

He requested the young people to share what they discussed in the forum with their peers once they return to their home countries.

According to the Youth Programmes Manager, Royal Commonwealth Society, Claire Anholt, the leadership forum has been an amazing experience and the government of Rwanda has been very supportive right from the first day.
"We had an amazing opportunity to experience a whole range of cultural and historical social activities in Rwanda,” she stressed.

One of the participants, Craig Dixon from Jamaica, said that the programme had helped them to network, mentor, and create leadership opportunities in order to equip them with requisite skills needed in development.

"I was so excited by the tremendous achievements Rwanda has registered so far in the shortest possible time after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” he said.

Noel Ntahobari from Rwanda said that his peers from other nations had experienced and witnessed the changes Rwanda achieved in 16 years, and that he hoped they would be good ambassadors of Rwanda in their home countries.

"We have got enough skills in peace building, international understanding and conflict resolution,” said Meema Shayo from Tanzania.

The Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Conference enables youth aged between 18 and 25 from Commonwealth member states to exchange ideas, develop peace building and leadership skills, nurture friendships and return to their countries as proactive agents of change.

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