Youth empowerment campaign launched

Ngoma – The Government has embarked on a long-term programme to support youth cooperatives in the country.This was said by the Minister of Youth and Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Jean Philbert Nsengimana, at the launch of the programme dubbed ‘Agaciro Kange’.Agaciro Kange, as opposed to Agaciro Development Fund, is exclusively meant for the empowerment of the youth across the country.The ceremony that was accentuated by songs and dances from popular local musicians like Kitoko and Dream Boys, was attended by the Governor of Eastern Province, Odette Uwamariya.The minister said the programme will help the youth access loans, adding that it was all about youth empowerment for global opportunities.“We are committed to the establishment of a model youth cooperative in every Cell. This means that we are looking at 2,148 youth cooperatives in the country,” he said.He reminded hundreds of youth from all over the province that the launch of the programme, coincided with the Patriotism Day.Rwanda’s liberation struggle started on 1st October 1990.“October 1 is when patriotic youth stepped up a campaign to liberate our country from a despotic regime. We should remember the day in style…the youth must unchain themselves from poverty, drugs, etc. We want a happy generation, hard working and innovative,” he said.Dieudone Nteziyaremye, the chairman of a youth transport union known as UNESCOM, said that with government support, the youth will be limited by the sky.He noted that the youth were mainly challenged by lack of guarantees demanded by banks before they give loans.“The launch of Agaciro Kacu is timely…our main challenges include inability to access loans because we don’t have collateral requested by banks. This will be addressed,” he said.

National

Youth empowerment campaign launched