The 12th edition of Urugerero, Rwanda's national civic education and community service programme, is set to conclude on February 28, having engaged over 69,000 youth volunteers nationwide. In Kamonyi District, 1,928 young participants have been involved in various impactful initiatives across 12 sectors. They have contributed to constructing a new cell office in Kagina, building 12 homes for vulnerable families, establishing a modern market, and renewing roads in Rugaruka, among other projects. These youth volunteers have committed themselves to addressing urgent needs within their communities. Their efforts have included creating green gardens to combat malnutrition and promoting awareness of Rwanda's history and national unity. This year’s initiative, which began on January 13, brought together recent high school graduates—referred to as Inkomezabigwi—who completed their studies in the 2023/2024 academic year. Their work also extended to supporting Intwaza, highlighting their dedication to enhancing local communities before the program concludes. ALSO READ: Streamline role of Urugerero youth for greater impact Pascal Gasana, the Learning Programme Coordination Analyst at the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), praised the youth of Kamonyi for their courage and hard work throughout the Urugerero programme. He noted that many of the tasks were nearly completed ahead of schedule, demonstrating the dedication of the participants. “Urugerero must be seen as a solution to community problems, providing the manpower required to tackle pressing needs, the youth in this district showed courage and were happy to contribute, but my gratitude goes to the authorities of Kamonyi District for their support and how they worked hand-in-hand with the youth, he said. Gasana also emphasised that this year’s participants were different, as they underwent proper training before starting their tasks, which resulted in a greater sense of discipline and respect for the programme. The Mayor of Kamonyi District, Sylver Nahayo, commended the youth’s performance in this year’s Urugerero programme, noting the impressive work they accomplished in a short period. He pointed out that the success of the programme was not only due to the youth, but also because of the strong support from parents and the broader community. We are proud of our youth for what they have achieved, even though the community and their families were supporting them. I believe this experience will serve them well in the years ahead because the activities they do will leave a lasting legacy. Even when they leave Kamonyi and come back, they can still look at what they did with pride and we are thankful for their effort, he noted. The mayor emphasised that the programme has had a profound impact on the participants, helping them develop key skills that will benefit them long into the future. ALSO READ: How Urugerero is transforming lives through volunteerism, civic engagement Adele Mukandera, a 48-year-old woman who had long struggled without a place to call home, had lived without a family or stable shelter for years. Despite her hard work, she couldn’t afford a place to stay. When the community became aware that she owned a plot of land inherited from her parents, they decided to step in and build her home through the Urugerero programme. I don’t even have words to express how I feel right now, I never imagined I would own a house in this lifetime, Seeing how courageous and dedicated these young people are, building so quickly, fills me with gratitude. I want to say thank you to my country, my local leaders, and the community I live in, she said. Speaking to some of the youth participating in the Urugerero programme from Gacurambwenge Sector in Kamonyi District, they shared how the experience has been both transformative and rewarding. One of the participants, Alexandre Nduwayo, highlighted the sense of accomplishment he felt in contributing to his community’s development. This month, Urugerero has been a valuable opportunity to contribute to building my country, starting with our local community. We've built homes for those in need, and we've also learned about our history and how to raise awareness, helping our community reach its goals, he stated. As for Carine Mutuyimana Gitego, the whole experience helped her gain valuable skills and knowledge and a deeper understanding of the country’s history. All the work we’ve done here has helped me grow as a person and being part of that process has been fulfilling. We also built a computer lab and an ECD center for children, I’ve also learned how to work with others, contribute to building my country, and gained a deeper understanding of my country—things I didn’t know before the Urugerero programme, she noted.
