There is something worth celebrating in the news that around 70,000 Rwandans have volunteered to help facilitate the upcoming local government elections. Beyond the enormous logistical contribution they will make to the electoral process, their willingness to serve represents something much bigger: a culture of volunteerism that has been central to Rwanda's journey. This is a spirit that must be protected and, especially among young people, strengthened. Some of the most consequential chapters in Rwanda's recent history were written by people who chose service and sacrifice over personal comfort. Young men and women abandoned their lives to join the liberation struggle, with many paying the ultimate price. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda had institutions to rebuild and a devastated country to put back on its feet. Many people stepped forward to serve, including in public institutions, despite the country's extremely limited resources. That spirit of service has endured in different forms. It can be seen in Umuganda, community health workers, youth volunteer programmes and numerous other initiatives through which Rwandans contribute their time and skills to their communities. Election volunteerism is another important expression of it. Rwanda has relied on electoral volunteers since 2003, helping organise elections while promoting citizen participation and reducing the financial burden of conducting them. The 70,000 volunteers preparing to facilitate the forthcoming local government elections therefore deserve recognition. For the many young people among them, this should be viewed not simply as a few days spent assisting at polling stations, but as participation in the affairs of their country. This culture matters even more as Rwanda's economy develops and society becomes increasingly individualistic. Progress should never mean abandoning the values of collective responsibility that helped build the country. Young Rwandans should be encouraged to see volunteering not as working for nothing, but as investing something valuable — their time, knowledge and energy — in the society to which they belong. The benefits also flow both ways. Volunteerism exposes young people to leadership, teamwork, discipline and communities outside their everyday circles. It creates networks and, importantly, nurtures the understanding that citizenship comes with responsibilities alongside rights. The generation that volunteered to rebuild a broken country had its challenge. Today's generation has a different one: sustaining what has been built and taking it further. The election volunteers are demonstrating that the spirit remains alive. It is a badge of honour they should wear proudly — and one that many more young Rwandans should aspire to earn.
