Over 3000 youth were yesterday, at national stadium in Remera, awarded certificates after completing training in various vocational skills under the Akazi Kanoze Programme.Akazi Kanoze, a youth livelihood programme by EDC (Education Development Centre Inc.), provides the youth with vital tools and resources to enter into a positive development pathway that will lead to increased opportunities.Speaking at the graduation, the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, noted that this initiative will help the youth empower not only themselves but the entire nation.She said the Project had given the youth a strong foundation through personal development; inter personal communication, finance and fitness.Mrs. Kagame urged the youth to be exemplary and prove that customer care is possible in Rwanda."You have been equipped with skills that you should make good use of and give good services to the public as you empower yourselves as well. Avoid undignified ways of survival and getting ‘quick money’ instead, work hard and you’ll achieve what you want,” she said.The First Lady also expressed her appreciation to USAID and other stakeholders who contribute to the empowerment of young people in Rwanda.The Minister of Education, Dr Vincent Biruta, called upon the youth to create their own jobs instead of waiting for other people to employ them. He also told them to get over the misconception that technical education is for failures in conventional education, stressing that vocational skills were equally important.Students speak out Solange Ngirabakunzi, 21, is one of the youth who has benefited from the programme. Before training from Akazi Kanoze, she didn’t have any job market skills and didn’t believe she could create a job opportunity for herself. Through the programme, she was inspired to start something of her own that would help sustain her and her education.Akazi Kanoze provides youth with market-relevant hands-on training opportunities, and links the graduates to employment opportunities while helping others towards self-employment and job creation. The programme works with the government, private sector and civil society organizations to help them develop a youth livelihood opportunity network.