Rwandan youth have access to opportunities offered by the Commonwealth, according to Isabelle Mugwaneza, Strategic Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Mugwaneza made said this during celebrations of Commonwealth Day at the Parliament of Rwanda on Monday, March 9, held under the theme: Understanding the Commonwealth and the Existing Opportunities for Rwandan Youth Entrepreneurs. ALSO READ: Rwandan official appointed chair of Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network The event brought together students, young entrepreneurs, and government representatives for an interactive session on youth entrepreneurship, skills development, and international collaboration. “For youth, the Commonwealth Youth Programme, established in 1973, is the primary mechanism for engagement,” Mugwaneza said. “Engagement with the Commonwealth opens avenues for entrepreneurship, education, trade, and civic participation. Young people should leverage these opportunities to advance personal, national, and regional development while contributing to the shared values of the Commonwealth,” she said. She explained that the programme empowers youth through initiatives such as forums at CHOGM, online training opportunities, scholarships offered via the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and networks including the Commonwealth Youth Council, Commonwealth Youth Awards, and the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs. “These initiatives provide mentorship, funding, and global networking opportunities for young entrepreneurs,” she added. ALSO READ: Nduhungirehe on Rwanda’s role in Commonwealth, expanded diplomatic relations To recognise youth making a positive impact, the Commonwealth Secretariat has opened nominations for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. Managed by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the awards honour outstanding changemakers aged 15–29 from the 56 member countries who implement projects contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, an overall winner is named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, with regional awards for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and the Pacific. The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Africa serves as a continental network for young entrepreneurs, facilitating inter-regional trade, access to markets, entrepreneurship education, mindset shifts, and opportunities for sharing best practices, mobilising resources, and establishing partnerships. “The Commonwealth also offers trade advantages through shared language, legal systems, and preferential programmes among member states,” Mugwaneza noted. “Rwanda’s adoption of English as a language of instruction facilitates integration into this broader system, particularly for entrepreneurs in climate, agriculture, digital trade, and women-led businesses.” The Commonwealth further provides youth with platforms in sports, debates, and leadership development, including the Commonwealth Youth Games in Scotland and the Commonwealth University Debate Championship. ALSO READ: Commonwealth Day: What's it all about? “These platforms allow young Rwandans to showcase talent, network internationally, and gain exposure to global best practices,” she said. MP Donatha Gihana, Executive Committee Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Rwanda, highlighted the day’s theme: Unlocking Opportunities Together for a Prosperous Commonwealth, with a particular focus on youth entrepreneurship. “As Rwanda continues to play a leading role in the Commonwealth, we must learn more about the organisation, the opportunities available to youth, and how best to tap into them,” Gihana said. Thomas Mwesigye, Rwanda’s current national youth delegate to the Commonwealth and representative of the Rwanda National Youth Council, reiterated the country’s active engagement with the Commonwealth Youth Programme. “Over the past two years, we have connected with youth across the Commonwealth, attending forums in Samoa and facilitating access to networks such as the Commonwealth Students Network, Peace Network, Climate Network, and Youth in Work Network,” he said. Mwesigye stressed the importance of local engagement in maximising these opportunities. “The government of Rwanda has supported youth to attend these platforms, and we encourage everyone here to actively participate. When you are at the table, you can negotiate and make an impact,” he added. The youth raised concerns about gaps between education and employment. “Partnerships are needed to address the skills gap between education and the job market,” said Benita Uwambaje, a student at the University of Rwanda. Others highlighted challenges in accessing Commonwealth opportunities due to language barriers. Several participants called for programmes to improve English literacy to better express skills and ideas in the Commonwealth’s common language. Shakila Uwineza, founder and CEO of Shaky, a food processing company, raised issues around market access. “It’s difficult for small food processing companies to connect with large supermarkets or export buyers. We need support systems to make this easier across the Commonwealth,” she said. The participants underscored the vast potential for Rwandan youth to leverage Commonwealth networks to advance entrepreneurship, skills development, and international collaboration. Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009, becoming the 54th member of the community made up mostly by English speaking countries, which represent about 2.7 billion people.
