Students attending the three-week civic education training programme, Itorero, have been urged to espouse traditional moral and ethical Rwandan values.

Several senior Government officials made the call, Tuesday, while speaking at various camps where the high school graduates are enrolled.

"The training programme aims at enabling you (the youth) to understand the positive impact of upholding the traditional ethical values of the Rwandan culture,” the State Minister in Charge of Energy and Water, Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, told the students in Karongi District.

An estimated 40,000 students are currently participating  in the programme countrywide, with about 9,000 drawn from Western Province.

Denny Bisengimana, the official in charge of Itorero Ry’igihugu in the Western Province, said that Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke and Karongi are among the districts with the highest population of students attending the training programme in the region.

"It is understandable that the four districts have vast sectors and they are a bit more urbanised than the rest, thus the high number of students” Bisengimana explained.

Meanwhile, in Rutsiro District, Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi called for hard work and unity among the youth.

Protais Nkundabagenzi, one the students praised the programme, saying it was prolific.

"There is so much productive information that I have been able to learn in the few days I have been here. So many Rwandan cultural values ought to be preserved,” he observed.

In Nyagatare District, the Minister of Justice, Tharcisse Karugarama told about 500 students gathered at Nyagatare Secondary School to avoid divisions.

"Most of us,” he said, "are ageing…but we strive to shape you to become good future successors who will keep the candle burning,” said the minister.

Nyagatare Mayor, Fred Atuhe Sabitti, challenged students to practice what they learn from the solidarity camp.

"You should draw lessons from this camp to work hard and transform the community,” he said.

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