Kagame tasks Itorero youth to protect Rwanda’s progress

President Paul Kagame has urged youth to take responsibility for shaping the country’s future, telling participants of Itorero Indangamirwa that their generation must protect and build on the progress achieved by those who came before them. The Head of State said this Tuesday, July 28, during a meeting with participants of the 16th cohort of the civic education programme at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre (CTC) in Gabiro, Gatsibo District. ALSO READ: Kagame meets with Itorero Indangamirwa participants The programme which runs from July 1 to August 10 has brought together 769 youth aged between 18 and 23, including students, Rwandans living abroad and top-performing participants from the 13th Inkomezabigwi Urugerero National Service Programme. “For you, the youth, you must take responsibility from where you are. I would say that this is your time,” Kagame said. “We are here today looking ahead because those of us who came before you will eventually leave the stage. When you leave a stage, you ask yourself: who comes after me, and what are they like? We look ahead and ask: what will our future look like, and who will shape it? The answer is you, whether you choose to take responsibility or not.” ALSO READ: Kagame tells youth to invest in long-term growth, not 'vibes' The President cautioned that failing to embrace that responsibility could undermine the progress made over the years. “But if you embrace it, you and those who come after you will benefit,” he said. “We will look back and ask: did we leave our children on the right path, the path their parents started, or did everything we worked for become meaningless? It is possible for efforts to become wasted.” Values, discipline and knowledge Kagame said the purpose of Itorero is to equip young people with values, knowledge and cultural understanding needed to navigate challenges wherever they are in the world. “Wherever you may be in the world, you should be able to face those challenges based on the culture and values you have received from your country,” he added. He added that discipline gives value to knowledge, saying that when the two are combined, they help people make better choices, stay focused on their goals, and avoid pursuing things that do not contribute to their growth or things that may even harm them. Learning from history Kagame also urged participants to understand Rwanda’s history and use its lessons to protect the country’s future. He said the country’s journey through different historical periods, including colonisation, the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and liberation struggle offers lessons that younger generations must carry forward. “You wanted to understand where we came from, what happened that should never have happened, and how we can ensure it never happens again,” he told the participants. “You came here to learn about history, to understand where the country needs to go, and how we can prevent those mistakes from returning.” He encouraged the youth to begin thinking early about their role in society, their families and the country. Speaking at the meeting, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Jean-Damascene Bizimana said the programme uses former participants and government and security officials to share experiences with youth, while promoting values of unity, teamwork and self-reliance. “Through making the right choices, these youths have chosen to address challenges affecting young people, including drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and others. Those studying abroad and those who will go abroad, have committed to becoming ambassadors of Rwanda, embracing the positive values from other cultures while avoiding practices that contradict Rwandan culture and values,” he added.

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Kagame tasks Itorero youth to protect Rwanda’s progress