Rwanda’s new generation whose Task is also Fighting Against Drugs addiction
Young people recite some of the names of Genocide victims whose families were wiped out during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This was during Sunday’s night vigil at Amahoro National Stadium in Remera as Rwanda began a one-week official mourning period in honour of the over one million victims of the Genocide. PHOTO: THE NEW TIMES
It’s quite true that most of Rwandan adolescents want to put the dark part of the country’s history behind them and build a new Rwanda where all ethnic groups can live together.
However much of Rwandans, of course, are still heavily traumatized and very uneasy in many ways consequently leading them into unsocial behavior which include drug addictions.
“We are talking about the new generation which is responsible for sustaining the gains that the country has achieved after 25 years, but it is very shocking to see our young people today who are severely destroyed by drugs abuse.” says Albert Musabyimana while giving an example of an addictive drink called “Agashinge” used by young people as a solution to escaping from the challenges, among them there are challenges originating from the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Musabyimana was speaking on Wednesday at the discussions organized as part of the 25th Commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi, an event that took place in Gasharu Cell, Kinyinya Sector of Gasabo District in the city of Kigali.
Throughout the next 100 days, the Government says it will focus on the young generation. This is commendable because the youth make up more than 60 per cent of the country’s population.
Though the exact number countrywide of young people indulged in drug abuse is not known, what is clear and critical is that among 60% of youth in Rwanda, there is a number which is not miscalculated of drug addicts which needs bold actions and responses in a country whose focus is a youth led development.
“I had the chance to visit IWAWA, imagine 2000 young addicts who are there! The number of those accommodated there could go even higher if there is additional space to accommodate more”, Musabyimana added referring to Iwawa rehabilitation Centre where drug addicts are taken for rehabilitation care.
Although it was not the only subject to be discussed this Wednesday, Mr. Albert Musabyimana, also a survivor of the Genocide committed against the Tutsi, had a goal of showing young people that they must fight against drugs abuse like other fights among them there is also the fight against the denial of the Genocide against Tutsis and rumors spread via social media mostly targeting young people.
The Rwandan youth now who have to be bold and take the lead on nation building will undoubtedly have to be healthy youth otherwise letting them plunge into drug abuse will results into the failure that will consequently have impacts on the country’s economic growth currently at admirable pace.
Also Watch: VIDEO: Educating Post-Genocide Generation for NEVER AGAIN to Genocide
Simple observation shows that many of the addicts were not yet born during the Genocide while others may have encountered problems related to Genocide as consequences.
Therefore, they face different peculiar problems, which require different approaches if we are to sustain the gains made over the past 25 years. They also need to be informed about the enormous opportunities the country has for them and why they need to be serious with their living conditions if they need to be healthy youth that will move on with a healthy and wealthy nation.
TWIBUKE TWIYUBAKA
