Keeping our culture against all odds

After realizing how important writing can be, VSO established Kivu Writers Organisation, a unique educational and literally project which enhances creativity in young secondary school students in Rwanda. The project aims at promoting creative expression in the youth through poetry, prose and drama. They write different kinds of material in different languages for all Rwandans. One of the objectives of the project is to improve both the students’ language skills and their creative literally abilities in poetry, script writing, narrative writing, journalism and song writing. The youth are the future of a post-genocidal society who are keen to leave behind the nightmares of the not too distant past. Kivu Writers hopes to give them the ability to express their emotions and life stories through the context of artistic expression. It is worth noting that the project has tremendously developed. The project boosts of being able to produce professional journalists, teachers, radio presenters, recording artists, editors and University students among others. This is a great indicator of the development of a future generation of Rwandan literally culture. We all acknowledge that all children who go to school are either gifted or talented. Sometimes education gives chance to talented children leaving out gifted ones. That is where Kivu Writers comes in. Mr. Rutali, the Regional Inspector of Education Kigali city called for more students to join the project. “We are very grateful that VSO opened the eyes of Rwandan youth. A lot has happened in Rwanda but no Rwandan wrote about the history. Instead it is only foreigners who write us,” he said. The Director General of MININFOR, Ignatius Kabagambe thanked the KWO for the work so far done. He argued that writing is a strong tool for communication. “This is what we have been waiting for. Since Kivu Writers have given us a head start, I have a strong commitment. I will definitely send the messages to the Ministry of Youth, MINEDUC, and the Ministry of Sports and Culture, he said.All well-wishers are urged to help improve creativity in Rwanda among young people. This is the only way of keeping our culture against all odds. However, even before we support KWO, let us develop reading culture in ourselves. Have you ever realized that you will never find someone reading a newspaper in a taxi? That remains an untold story for everyone here in Rwanda. How best are we going to keep informed anyway? The author is a teacher at Kagarama secondary schoolshebs10@yahoo.com