Rwanda, over the weekend, joined the world in marking the International Day of Peace, a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September. In a celebration organised under the Peace Ambassadors’ Network (PAN) and supported by AEGIS Trust Rwanda, over 300 young people drawn from over seven districts gathered for the Turi Umwe Peace Festival, an event held on the eve of International Peace Day. The PAN brings together teachers, parents, young people, and local leaders who have undergone extensive peace and values education training with AEGIS Trust. Beyond learning, these ambassadors have translated skills into action by creating initiatives that tackle everyday challenges in their communities. ALSO READ: Youth should be at the forefront of reconciliation drive Through platforms such as the Turi Umwe Peace Festival, the network has a space to amplify youth voices, bridge divisions, and promote healing while nurturing a culture of peace that includes everyone. PAN is active in districts including Kigali, Huye, and Nyagatare, where its members lead numerous activities such as preventing school dropouts, resolving family and community conflicts, promoting peace through arts and culture, supporting communities to address mental health challenges, organizing charity and social solidarity events and more. ALSO READ: Rwandan youth should be at the forefront of country's cultural revival Speaking at the event, Alphonse Munyantwali, Country Director for the AEGIS Trust Rwanda, said empowering young people with the right values is a foundation of sustainable peace. “When we train young minds to embrace peace, we shape societies that are stable, creative, and resilient,” he noted. Munyantwali said that the trainees received knowledge about Rwanda's history, particularly the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which instilled in them the responsibility to help prevent any resurgence of genocide ideology in Rwanda and beyond. “We are training them to be part of the broader progress, to be ambassadors of good initiatives that contribute to development, since peace is the foundation of people’s well-being and the entire ecosystem,” he explained. ALSO READ: Vox Pop: What the youth think are pillars of peace Aline Nzamukosha, Coordinator of PAN Kigali, told The New Times that the movement to tackle school dropouts has recorded positive results. For example, in Kicukiro District, about 60 children who were once living on the streets have come together to form the “Ihumure Club” and are now back in school. A few others who were at risk of dropping out were supported after peace builders first trained their parents, who had been in conflict, and both parents and children are now in a better situation. “In Gasabo District, Peace Ambassadors are also active in several schools, including G.S Nduba, G.S Kacyiru, G.S Sabaganga, and G.S Ntora, where our members are engaged in providing necessities to help students continue their education. “We have also managed to reconcile and restore six families who were in conflict in Gasabo, eight in Nyarugenge, and five in Kicukiro. All of them were later equipped with skills to engage in socio-economic activities and earn a living,” she said. Patrick Tuyishime, a Peace Ambassador, perceives peace as inseparable from a fulfilling life, stressing that youth and families should make it a priority and lead the way. “We recognise those who fought for it, and this reminds us of our responsibility to guard it and take full charge. Being united, working together, and sharing common understanding and goals will help us build peace within ourselves and for the nation,” he said. The International Day of Peace is a day dedicated to promoting peace through 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire. The 2025 theme is “Act Now for a Peaceful World.” Each year, people, communities, and organisations across the globe take part in activities that reflect this theme. This is a reminder that peace does not come by itself but requires action from everyone. We all share the responsibility to build peace in our homes, communities, countries, and the world.
