While launching the 15th edition of Itorero Indangamirwa, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana urged Rwandan youth to be a mirror of the nation — role models who reject bad influences from abroad and uphold the values of their country.
The civic training camp, which kicked off at the Nkumba Civic Training Center in Burera District, brings together 438 young Rwandans, including 204 girls and 234 boys. Among them are 104 youth studying or living abroad, students from international schools in Rwanda, top performers from the Inkomezabigwi civic engagement program, and youth leaders representing their peers.
Minister Bizimana called on the youth to be vigilant and avoid any form of behavior that could harm national unity. He reminded them of how colonial powers divided Rwandans, laying the foundation for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Colonialists dismantled the unity of Rwandans by sowing divisions that ultimately led to the genocide,” he said. “You must reject anyone who promotes hatred, division, or genocide ideology. Always strive to be exemplary in all that you do.”
He also warned against copying negative behaviors seen abroad, encouraging the participants to remain grounded in Rwandan values.
The youth, especially those from the diaspora, expressed a strong desire to learn more about their country and to serve it in different capacities.
The 45-day program will include basic military training, courses in Rwandan history, civic education, national identity, cultural values, and an introduction to Rwanda’s long-term development goals across different sectors.
The Itorero Indangamirwa program has so far trained over 5,000 young Rwandans since its inception, aiming to prepare them as patriotic citizens ready to contribute to the country’s growth and resilience.
