How President Kagame inspired Post-Genocide Generation
In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has undergone various changes at all levels including the level of youth.
At the forefront of changes there were made Rwandans led by RPF Inkotanyi in collaboration with other political parties in Rwanda, as well as non- non-governmental and International organizations whose support cannot be underestimated.
In this article we want to highlight President Kagame’s role in helping the post-Genocide Generation and giving them a vision to achieve their aspirations.
After the genocide was over, Rwanda had a large number of homeless orphans, many families were in extreme poverty, many were unable to get food, the number of refugees was huge across various camps, infrastructure had been destroyed to such an extent that ‘trade between the provinces was impossible.
In all of this, I have no doubt that if Rwanda did not have a leadership that values the people and the rest of us, we could have still remained in the darkness and most of the impact would be on the youth, who are also the majority of Rwandans.
In public speeches and interviews with President Kagame, he often reminded the youth that they are the strength of the country and are the ones who will continue to build it.
I remember when President Kagame went abroad to meet with different Rwandans through “Rwanda Days” to discuss the role of everyone in building the once smashed country, but found that the country he went to had a large number of young people who came to insult him, stone him and other acts of boorishness before the Head of State.
There was a country probably the United Kingdom where President Kagame went to meet Rwandans and many Rwandans among them reckless youth convened along the way to throw eggs at him, which saddened him when he addressed the audience, saying, “Unfortunately, those who threw eggs at me should have eaten them because they are starving.”
On my understanding, it is they (reckless youth) who have continued to slow down the attitudes of other young people mainly due to their negative attitudes which have prevented the youth of Rwanda from fully releasing themselves into the development process as the President has repeatedly called for and this was the challenge of the time.
After President Kagame’s foreign visits, we have seen many young people return to the country and start making profitable and development projects for our country.
Here, too, I cannot forget to mention a large number of young people who have left the armed groups and returned to the country after hearing several speeches of President Kagame who have not ceased to talk peace and willingness to return for everyone who wish to peacefully comeback to his/her homeland.
Today those who have managed to return home have created their own business, other are in agriculture, in the field of national security and so on.
Coming back to the main purpose of this article, President Kagame has shown the Lion’s heart as shock absorber in the face of the challenges facing the country, especially among many young people.
President Kagame has repeatedly said that everyone could find solutions to the problems that had befallen on Rwanda, largely related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
One day, President Kagame told his audience that “Rwanda is facing a lot of problems and that is why it is looking for unique (unconventional) solutions.”
At the time, it seemed that there were those who insisted on adhering to international standards in resolving disputes, but those principles would not achieve anything because those principles would not protect Rwanda from shocks.
Imagine if he agreed to share power with FDLR which was insisting on power sharing? Imagine if he listened to the whites who demanded that Rwanda be divided into two parts: the one inhabited by Hutus and the other inhabited by Tutsis?
The fact is that President Kagame and his allies never wanted to see Rwanda back in danger as it happened before.
When one analyzes, one finds that today’s patriotic youth are drawn from the aspirations given by the country’s leadership, but especially from the debates that President Kagame has held with them in several times.
Otherwise, President Kagame would have been indebted to Rwanda for having not built the country’s youth. He would have been indebted to young people who had no parents and needed to hear the advice of the elders.
The results of the paid debts are that:
- Many of the young people who were able to return to school are graduating in a big number.
- Attitudes toward learning to apply for employment have decreased.
- Many young people study to create their own businesses and to employ their peers, something that has never happened before.
- The private sector is dominated by a large number of young people.
Homework
So, the engine that went with them (Young) until right now should be resupplied much more than before whether stays for additional years in presidency or joins retirement when the right times come. This is a task that needs a unique solution and will also come from Rwandans as usual. No outside dictation on how to select an engine that works better for you.
Let us all unite with one goal: to build a better place for more Generations to come.
About the Author:
DUSABEMUNGU Ange de la Victoire: Experienced Communications Associate with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry. Skilled in Photography, Multi-media, Twitter, Microsoft Programs, Sales, and Editing. Strong media and communication professional with a Bachelor’s degree focused in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs from National University of Rwanda. Political and Social Commentator on www.topafricanews.com and other local media
