Recognising youth achievements motivates their peers

The 2013 edition of the Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers Awards (CYRWA) organised annually by Imbuto Foundation, again sent a message that out there, this country has a pool of talented and innovative youth.It never ceases to amaze, year in year out, at the number of young minds behind groundbreaking projects; be they humanitarian, technological, or in the case of Esther Mbabazi, conquering the male dominated aviation industry by becoming the first female pilot, now plying her trade with the national carrier, RwandAir.In recognising the youth’s achievements, Imbuto, the brainchild of First Lady Jeannette Kagame, has given them a shot in the arm to overcome their fears and perceived shortcomings and instead dictate their future, without forgetting that of their country.To find a young person in this day and age, who mobilises their peers to ease the suffering of the vulnerable, be they patients in Rwandan hospitals or the displaced in far away Somalia, is not a mean feat. It calls for dedication, compassion, and above all, determination.Every year, the list of CYRWA candidates and nominees gets wider and wider and more people join the campaign, but the final choice of the laureates is just a drop in the ocean.By recognising the young achievers, Imbuto has opened the door to nurturing, encouraging and harnessing the young minds to think beyond their own circles, to recognise the fact that their contributions are important cogs in nation building that will be emulated by others.

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Recognising youth achievements motivates their peers