More than 700 young people on Monday, August 10, graduated from the 16th cohort of Itorero Indangamirwa, a civic education programme that brings together young Rwandans from different backgrounds, at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Gatsibo District. The programme attended by 769 participants lasted 40 days. The participants, aged between 18 and 23, came from diverse backgrounds, including Rwandans living or studying abroad, students from international secondary schools, university students and top-performing graduates of the 13th Inkomezabigwi Urugerero National Service Programme. According to the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, this is the largest Indangamirwa cohort since the programme was launched. Previous editions each hosted fewer than 500 participants. ALSO READ: Kagame meets with Itorero Indangamirwa participants Throughout the programme, participants attended sessions and discussions on civic values, leadership, patriotism and national development. They have also visited key historical sites, including the Kiziguro Genocide Memorial and the Mulindi Liberation Museum in Gicumbi District, to deepen their understanding of Rwanda's history and the liberation struggle. The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, said the success of the 16th cohort was enabled in part by the facilities at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre, which allowed the programme to accommodate more participants and provide the necessary training environment. ALSO READ: Kagame tasks Itorero youth to protect Rwanda’s progress He said the government plans to further increase the number of young people attending Itorero Indangamirwa, building on the growth recorded in recent years. “This centre has the capacity to accommodate and train larger numbers. That is why, next year, our target is to reach 800 participants,” he said. Since the programme was launched in 2008, nealrly 6,000 young people have been trained through Itorero Indangamirwa, according to Bizimana. During the latest cohort, participants received lessons and took part in discussions on a range of topics, including civic values, leadership, patriotism, national development and basic military knowledge, alongside study visits. Bizimana also highlighted the visit by President Paul Kagame on July 28, saying the participants received guidance that they considered important to their personal development and contribution to the country. “They received advice that they will not easily forget. They have discussed it repeatedly and said it will help them in their lives, in developing themselves and in contributing to the development of the country,” he said. Bizimana further pointed to the celebration of Umuganura during the programme as an opportunity for participants to learn about values embedded in Rwandan culture, including unity, togetherness and appreciation of work. He said participants had requested that such cultural elements be incorporated more deliberately into future editions of Itorero to help young people better understand and preserve Rwandan values. Uwera Agasaro, a 22-year-old student from the United States, said the programme helped her learn the importance of discipline, living and working with people from different backgrounds, and approaching challenges calmly. “It has been a long time since I was in an environment where people from different backgrounds and with different understandings of life come together, work together and achieve something common in a unified way. This programme taught me how important it is to understand and work with people who may see things differently from you,” Agasaro said. “I also learnt that discipline is not only about time management. It is also about controlling your body, your mind and your relationships with other people. I have come to understand that all these aspects of discipline are important instruments in life and can help you go far.” Ange Ineza, an 18-year-old high school graduate, said the programme changed her understanding of the sacrifices made by RPA Inkotanyi during the liberation struggle and strengthened her sense of patriotism. “Before this programme, I knew the Inkotanyi had fought for the country, but I did not fully understand the price they paid for the peace and the Rwanda we have today. Learning about their sacrifices made me realise that the opportunities we enjoy as young people did not come for free,” Ineza said. “It opened my eyes to the responsibility I have as a young Rwandan. It awakened my spirit of patriotism and made me feel that I also have a role to play in protecting what has been achieved and contributing to the future of our country.”
