First Lady Jeannette Kagame on Saturday told more than 2000 young people gathered in Kigali to shun away from peer pressure and embrace peer support, citing that friendship and social engagement should lead to an improved future, and not a compromised one.

She made the remarks as Rwanda marked the United Nation’s International Youth Day, under the theme Green skills for youth; towards a sustainable world. The day also brings attention to the issues impacting young people globally.

In Rwanda, the Giants of Africa brought together 2000 youth from different path of life to mark the celebrations.

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The young crowd included innovators, entrepreneurs, students and public servants. Also present was Giants of Africa co-founder Masai Ujiri and wife Ramatu Ujiri, Retired Lt General Romeo Dallaire, Founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, Ishmael Beah, Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and Advisor to the Dallaire Institute, cabinet ministers, among others.

"The energy in this room today is truly contagious, and electrifying. thank you Giants of Africa for your incredible work for the past two decades and for bringing us here today,” First Lady told a packed BK Arena.

She added, "Our youth, we are starting an exciting week, which I hope will be rich in fun and joyful memories, yet we are also having a somewhat loaded conversation.”

Invest in your shine

At a time when the globe is experiencing strange times for everyone, and news making its way into homes suggesting that there is trouble all over, First Lady urged the youth to pursue good health, happiness and prosperity.

"Children of our Beautiful Continent, what we want for you is quite simple: a steady, maintainable onwards and upwards for Africa. Good health, happiness, prosperity and achievement are what the youth deserves,” she said.

"So, good health, happiness and prosperity are what you must all pursue! I don’t doubt one moment that you can claim all these blessings. You are compelling, you are engaging, you are dynamic, you are creative, you are daring, you are attuned to this rapidly moving world, as if you already know some of what it will take to navigate it successfully.”

Mrs Kagame also pointed out that with the advent of for instance internet, and through improved education and access to information, young people appear to grow smarter by the day.

"You are gems of flesh, Dear Youth, but I still urge you to work on your polishing. Invest in your shine. Channel your competitiveness into being the most educated, the most well-rounded in the room,” she added, "Be the voice of reason even in times of hostility.”

Takes more than talent

Just like in sports, First Lady told the young folks, much of your skill will come from your days, months, years of practice, and not only your talent.

"What we can offer you, in what will be quite the journey to being "grown”, as you call it, is the wisdom the years have given us. You see, some of us have been "grown” for quite a while, in some cases, for longer than we realize, until we are around fresh, youthful faces like the ones before me.”

"And this is the knowledge I hope to leave with you guys today: what your own successes will take, irrespective of talent, regardless of luck.”

"Determination. Discipline and good judgement. Team spirit. Victory through partnership. Collective efforts. Reliance on each other. Collaboration, shared ambition, friendship...all the values that have always guided strong performances in team sports.”

Greener pastures

Reacting on the idea that Africa is short on resources, a gap that sees African youth searching for greener pastures across the oceans, the first lady asserted that the youth are the continent’s greatest resource.

"Together we must, together we will. This spirit should habit every heart of this continent. Never mind those who claim that greener pastures are only available across oceans.”

"You come from a continent of unmatched resource wealth, and you are its greatest resource yet. If your path takes you elsewhere, may you be blessed with good education, health and fulfilment, and may you eventually use your blessings, to help uplift the homes, that prayed for your good fortune. "

Have fun, dominate through excellence

While young people ought to have fun, First Lady reiterated that worthy fun, does not come at the cost of your health and well-being.

"Always defend peace, for there is never glory in avoidable conflict or blood spill.”

If you crave success or even authority, she pointed out, learn to dominate through excellence, not through bullying or oppression.

"The world has seen enough of our mistreatment of each other, of our nature, of our cultures. I know, that you know, that you can do better for our fates. So do so! Craft the better, kinder world we all want for you, and may this year’s theme "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”, always inspire all our efforts, to be mindful, and respectful, of what is irreplaceable, our environment.”

"Dream big” aligns with Rwanda vision

To the youth, First Lady said, the country we stand on today "was built was built by the dreams and sacrifices of youth like yourselves so I would never think any of you is too young to have the conversations that matter.”

"Hosting you all in Kigali is a blessing that seemed almost unimaginable three decades back. Safety, the right to exist, as an individual worthy of respect, and deserving of dignity, was a luxury dangled away from our reach for decades. Some said that Rwanda was small and hopeless, and destined to a small, hopeless fate.

"But they didn’t realise that greatness is in fact in the spirit, greatness is in the ambition; not in size, not in origin or past experiences.”

"They, were blind to this obvious truth, because they were, and perhaps still are, classic "haters” indeed. But haters never win; not when there is almost an infinite power, to draw from love, and solidarity. It is a blessing in itself, to have lived long enough to see what could come of a suffering country if the ingredients for success were used.”

The First Lady went on to commend the work done by the Giants of Africa, and also lauded their organization’s 20th anniversary festival, underway in Kigali.

As part of the festival, more than 250 youths from 160 countries have converged on Kigali, converging from diverse corners of the globe to partake in the festival, which is also set to attract an array of star-studded performers.