Christian youth in peace building campaign

Youth Generation with a Vision (YGV), an association that brings together Christian youth from various religious denominations in the country, yesterday, held its first ever workshop aimed at appealing to fellow youth to take an upper hand in maintaining the country’s peace. The one-day event, which was organized in partnership with the Rwanda National Police (RNP), was held at the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR) in Kicukiro District under the theme “Role of Rwanda Christian Youth in Peace Building.” The event was characterized by prayers, testimonies and entertainment activities from local gospel musicians. Alphonse Nkuranga, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda National Youth Council (RNYC) presided over the function. Nkuranga, who commended them for their role in the development of the country, said that the future of the country is in their hands. “You are the future leaders of this country and what you do now determines how and where this country will be in future,” Nkuranga told over 300 youth who had turned up for the event. He urged them to always embrace the spirit of nationalism, set goals and support one another if they are to realize their dreams. “You should always be eager to do something, especially helping your families regarding peace building which will lead to the development of the country,” he said. He challenged them to always prove wrong those who want to divert them into bad deeds which, he said, led many in their age brackets, to take part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Started two years ago, YGV aims at changing the lives of the youth. The Association, which now has over 200 members, helps to resettle street kids and former sex workers by helping them start small income generating activities. The Association’s president, Prince Shyaka, said that they are now in the final stages of designing projects for over 50 former street children and sex workers, including, training them in secretarial studies, starting bookshops and operating motorcycle taxi businesses. Ends