Rwandans in Canada are preparing to participate in a Rwanda Week event set to take place in Ottawa from August 29 to September 2.During the one week event, Rwandans will explore ways and means to actively participate in the socio- economic life of their country, their representative, Dr. Egide Karuranga, told Saturday Times.Organisers say the event provides an important exchange platform that allows Rwandans within the Diaspora to feel that they are a part of Rwanda’s renaissance, while allowing those in Rwanda to tap into the knowledge and skills of their countrymen overseas and to learn about investment opportunities abroad.Karuranga said: “The idea stems from the fact that in the North American curricula, students of African origin don’t have an opportunity to learn about Africa in key disciplines like engineering, economics, and sciences.”“We decided to organise a competition based on Rwanda’s economic policies as embedded in Vision 2020 and EDPRS II. Rwandan students at North American colleges and universities are reading texts related to these policies in a final competition, where there will be role simulation. Big cities where there are Rwandans will be represented by teams of young men and women competing in a simulation of roles,” he said. Dr. Karuranga explained that a team might pick a role of a minister representing the government on issues related to promoting investment in clean energy, for example, and how to link it to Vision 2020, EDPRS, MDGs, and other programmes.“There is a panel of judges drawn from different backgrounds as this a multidisciplinary exercise.”“This is the biggest innovation in Rwanda Week – Diaspora youth having the opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to their motherland’s development, which they cannot learn from elsewhere. If it could inspire our Diaspora worldwide, we would be so happy.”According to Dr. Karuranga, 400 young Canadians of Rwandan origin are expected partake “especially now that they have a special Youth Summit” within Rwanda Week.
