A two-day youth forum is to be hosted by the Imbuto Foundation today in Kigali ahead of its 10th anniversary on Thursday.A statement sent to The New Times yesterday said it will be a day to remember how it all started with the belief in the right to equal opportunity and a dignified life.As the founder of Imbuto Foundation, the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame said, “We have the power and the obligation to contribute to the development of high quality of education of girls and boys and ultimately the transformation of our country into a prosperous and productive nation.”In 2002, Mrs. Kagame founded what was then known as Protection and Care of Families against HIV/AIDS (PACFA).Established to provide health care and economic opportunity to HIV positive Genocide survivors, PACFA’s work gave renewed hope to thousands of women and their families.With the overwhelming need in some of the fields crucial to Rwanda’s development such as education, PACFA grew to include a variety of initiatives and an increasing number of beneficiaries.After only five years, the organisation had fully grown into one of the largest contributors to the ongoing socio-economic transformation of Rwandans. It was then that PACFA became Imbuto Foundation.Translating as ‘seed’, the essence of Imbuto’s work was best described by its founder, Mrs. Kagame: “A seed well planted, watered, nurtured and given all the necessary support successfully grows into a healthy plant – one that reaches high and stands tall.”Since its founding, Imbuto Foundation has succeeded in providing services in the field of health, education and social economic empowerment to thousands of Rwandans, the staement says. “With its motto of engaging, educating and empowering, the seeds nurtured by Imbuto Foundation are living proof that with equal opportunity, Rwandans are transforming their nation”.As one of the recipients of Imbuto Foundation Best Performing Girls Award, Ornella Umubyeyi noted: we are the ones with the responsibility to build our nation, Rwanda’s future lays with us and nowhere else.”To celebrate its ten years, “Imbuto Foundation will do what it does best- empower Rwandan youth to be proud of who they are and be part of a dignified generation with the ability and opportunity to become who they want to be”.Themed “Ndi Umunyarwanda - I am Rwandan, this year’s forum will bring together youth ranging from 18 to 35 years old to learn more about common identity and the responsibility of all to shape the kind of future rooted in values of dignity and self determination, organisers say.
