A total of 80 young Rwandans, the first cohort of graduates from the Rwanda Heritage Hub (RHH), have pledged to contribute to the preservation of Rwanda's cultural heritage in the digital age. The RHH is a two-year program by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) aimed at equipping the youth with tools to harness technology for cultural preservation while creating employment in the cultural sector. ALSO READ: Cultural Heritage body in fresh quest to promote creative industry under new pact The program’s latest graduates engaged in 11 specialised courses covering aspects of Rwandan cultural heritage, business development, and digital technologies. Robert Masozera, the Director General of the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, said that the initiative was inspired by the identified gaps between the youth's skills and Rwanda's cultural heritage. We observed that other sectors, such as agriculture, health, and technology, have developed various initiatives, but the cultural heritage sector has not seen similar growth. Although many start-up accelerators related to tourism have been initiated, especially in Kigali, they have not been fully utilised. People often view museums as places for leisure and pleasure without realising the business opportunities they offer, he explained. Masozera affirmed that heritage-based tourism, combined with creativity and technology, is like hidden gold waiting to be discovered. These young people have the skills to forge their own paths. We understand that starting out is challenging, but we will support and mentor them. Where possible, we will also connect them with financial institutions or donors until they can stand on their own,” he said. Espera Donouvoussi, Senior Project and Resources Manager at ICCROM, highlighted that the primary goal was not only to preserve culture but also to empower young people to monetise resources from heritage. Having Rwanda as a part of this initiative has been a great opportunity to see how young people in this country are embracing cultural heritage. The next stage will involve co-designing with them, basing on their perspectives, and engaging them in creative endeavours,” he said. Among the graduates is Providence Iradukunda, the owner of the art venture “Agaciro Mama Africa” which focuses on creating clothing, blending heritage with contemporary design. Challenges still exist. Some of us have ideas but struggle to fully explore them. Others still don’t understand the importance of locally made products and have left that space to foreigners. We need to grasp why it's essential to promote our own creations. I'm confident that doing so will add value and lead to profitable outcomes, she said.
