Why we all need to embrace social life

On December 18, Good Neighbours-Kibaye, an association of residents of Kibaya-Umudugudu, Kamashashi Cell, Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District, organised “Children’s Day” around the National Presidential Museum located in Kanombe. As a member of this group, I was particularly delighted to spend quality time with kids and neighbours. This was the second time such a special occasion is organised as we draw close to festive season. The occasion was characterised by a flurry of entertaining activities intended to enable, more specifically, children as well as their parents to interact and socialise while feasting. The kids visited the museum to see the artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, or historical importance of Rwanda. Thereafter, kids were served mouth-watering meals and immediately after eating they started playing, dancing and singing. Of course, parents were not mere spectators but also participated in every single activity to spice up the fun. It was stunningly blissful moment. To me, this special occasion was a portrayal of vitally important core values typical of a Rwandan society. First, to the children, legally speaking, the UN Convention as well as Rwanda laws envisage every child’s right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts. This is not only a legal obligation but also moral. Parents or guardians have a responsibility that ensures that everything done for children should be in their best interest. However, this doesn’t imply granting children unlimited freedoms in all matters related to their rights. Nonetheless, everywhere and in all situations children have freedom of expression or right to play and this is central to the realisation of many other rights. Indeed, children have the right to enjoy their own culture. Besides, the right to play is indispensable for children’s mental and physical health and therefore to their well-being. Scientifically and mentally, playing increases children’s social competence and emotional maturity. They interact positively with their peers and adults. Indeed, play is vital to children’s social development. It enables children to practice and enhance both verbal and non-verbal communication skills encompassed in the freedom of expression. Through interaction or socialisation with their peers, they’re able to share feelings, materials and experiences. To parents, like their offspring, it was a momentous occasion to solidify a sense of unity and community solidarity. One of the moral values of Rwandan society as well as Africa at large is unity. The fact of social life, as opposed to individualistic life, is deeply-rooted in African culture and loosely practiced in Western world. Rwandan culture is traditionally premised on social life in which people used to utilise that platform to settle family disputes, among others. Although individualistic culture is gradually creeping into our society, we must fight it off. The drawbacks of individualistic culture are evident. To begin with, the needs of the individual are superior to the needs of the group as a whole. In this type of culture, people are seen as independent and autonomous. People develop the tendencies of antisocial behavior due to disparity in terms of income, levels of education, position-related statuses and so forth. In the end, people develop superiority complex ‘for the haves’ and inferiority complex for ‘the have nots. In such a society, social life and unity will be meaningless. In our society we need to embolden social life that breeds self-sacrifice, interdependence, generosity, and fellow-feeling spirit. When children and their parents meet for social intercourse it becomes a window of opportunity of staying connected. It looks beautiful to see people cracking jokes, swapping stories, eating and drinking together. Indeed, when parents and children meet it becomes an opportunity to pursue common societal interests. And following the advent of internet, social media has become a great gateway for social life. Most importantly, Good Neighbours-Kibaya initiated a number of activities designed to embrace the spirit of unity and community solidarity. Its members do offer moral and material support to bereaved families, to visit and offer gifts to new babies and their parents, to help the group members who are sick, and to launch a new contribution to bolster community security. Particularly, on the issue of security, just last year, there was rampant breaking-ins in people’s houses to steal Smart TVs and their accessories. As a consequence, Good Neighbours-Kibaya resolved to carve up different zones so that each zone can be responsible for ensuring its security. This action was quite productive. The rate of stealing in our community has diminished significantly. These undertakings have become pillars of unity and solidarity. In my view, perhaps an imperative lesson can be drawn from Good Neighbours-Kibaya’s initiatives to be inculcated across the country. The unity of a nation doesn’t spring from magic science but through pursuing common interests of the communities. The writer is an international law expert.

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Why we all need to embrace social life