Police Week: Efforts to transform the youth

NYANZA-As part of activities to mark the Police Week, Rwanda National Police has donated an assortment of equipment to a Nyanza-based cooperative that is determined to fight drug abuse among the youth.Members of the youth Cooperative, Club Turwanye Ibiyobyabwenge received 5 sewing machines and 12 bicycles to help them generate revenues.The handover of the items to the Club coincided with the launch of the Police week in the district, a community outreach campaign as part of the Police’s celebrations to mark the 12th anniversary, whose climax is scheduled for Friday, June 15.“This is an important contribution towards our efforts to live a better life,” said Etienne Irankunda, the representative of the cooperative.“In addition to generating revenues, the donation is a morale booster as it demonstrates that other organisations acknowledge our efforts to ensure a drug-free community”.Created in 2006, Club Turwanye Ibiyobyabwenge, comprises 75 members - formerly drug dealers and addicts from Busore sector.One of members, Kubwimana Vedaste, 24, told The New Times why he quit smoking Marijuana.“I realised that it [marijuana] was putting my life in danger. I was losing weight so much weight,” Kubwimana said.“After joining the cooperative, my life has changed, both socially and economically. I have since built strong relationship with the community and am working hard to build a better future, for both my family and I.”The launch of the Police Week campaign in Nyanza district started with community work – Umuganda - where government officials, Police and Army officers joined local residents to weed a 10-hectare tree plantation in Munyinya cell, Busoro sector.At the same event, 100 people were given health insurance while another 100 got mosquito nets as part of Police’s outreach programme.The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, said the campaign aims at helping the society get rid of the poverty, which he said is today’s main challenge.“Sustaining security goes beyond our daily responsibility of crime prevention. It also relates to economic development, good governance and good health,” Gasana said, adding that the aim of this campaign is “to support the socio-economic transformation of the Rwandan people.”The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, urged the public to play a more active role in the fight against drug abuse as well as Gender Based Violence. “Our country has a clear vision of building a developed and dignified society. We cannot achieve a lot when some people are still enslaved by drugs”, Musoni said.The Police Week Campaign kicked off on June 1 and is expected to end on June 16 – the day when Rwanda National Police will mark its 12th anniversary.Activities to mark the Week are set to be conducted in five districts - Nyamasheke, Gatsibo, Nyanza, Kicukiro and Burera.