HUYE - The annual Imbuto Foundation-sponsored youth camp opened yesterday at Groupe Scolaire de Butare in Huye district, with a call on students to work to the best of their abilities as well as build their lives and country.

This year’s camp has attracted over 900 students from all over the country, who during the three-day camp, will discuss, among other themes, reproductive health and how to shape their futures. 

Radegonde Ndejuru, the Director General of the Foundation, said that the camp is important because it offers a platform to discuss issues that would otherwise not be addressed at school and in homes.

"It is the wish of Her Excellency the First Lady (Patron of the Foundation) that we discuss more with the children, because sometimes when they go back home for holidays, they do not have the opportunity to discuss with their parents because of various reasons,” Ndejuru said.

"We want to establish this kind of dialogue where we can come up with interesting topics to discuss with them; sometimes they choose their own topics of interest.”

"Our priority is to empower the youth, we have to care for them because they are the future of the country. We think it is also important to give them life skills, to help them build confidence, communicate well, develop their entrepreneurship skills and all other skills that they cannot find time to learn at school,” she added.

Gerard Sibomana, one of the participants in last year’s camp, said that he was inspired to start up poultry farming after attending the camp.

"My poultry business has picked up well; I have also helped three fellow youth set up poultry businesses. I have opened a bank account and managed to save some money,” said Sibomana.

During the opening session on Monday, legislator Françoise Mukayisenga shared with the youth her humble background.
She said that with courage and determination, she was able to overcome all the challenges that came her way, rising through the ranks up to parliament.

She urged the youth to always set goals and have confidence if they are to build their lives and nation.

MP Francis Kaboneka challenged the youths to concentrate on their studies.

He said that as future leaders, the youth also have a responsibility to rally their communities behind nation building programmes.

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