Rwanda National Police

The Minister of Youth Rosemary Mbabazi, has challenged the youth to be a vibrant force in the country's transformation process.

She said that their role in security and development should be visible to make the country clean, green and safe.

Minister Mbabazi was speaking this Saturday in Mageragere Sector of Nyarugenge District where she addressed about 1500, shortly after a communal work - Umuganda.

At least 2000 trees were planted in Kankuba Cell during Umuganda.

“Always be agents of change; security and development programmes are also for you to oversee and implement where you live and pass,” she said.

She also appealed to the youth, particularly students as they prepare to go for school holidays, to distance themselves from indulging in malpractices like abusing illicit drugs and alcohol consumption, and partner with security organs to report and arrest drug dealers.

She also reminded them of their rights and urged them to report any child abuses and domestic violence.

Jack Murego, the Coordinator of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing in Nyarugenge District, said “we feel very proud to effect change in communities and to champion the government security and development programmes.”

“Hygiene and sanitation are very sensitive aspects and, when nothing or little is done to keep the environment clean, people acquire different communicable diseases, and it becomes a security issue,” Murego said.

“When our parents are sick, it means children will be affected in different aspects to have essential needs. Likewise when a child is sick, money that should be spent on development activities goes to medical bills, and that becomes a human security issues, which we hope to address as the youth in this campaign,” he added.

She noted that eventually when the youth are not given basic needs, they resort to unlawful acts like abusing drugs and theft.

“The youth volunteers organisation was formed under that basis to effect change, empower our fellow youth to always be positive in whatever they do, and implement government security and development programmes. ”

Members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing have done different activities including anti- crime/awareness and prevention, mobilization and tangible activities such as donating cows, health Insurance cards and building houses for poor families.

Currently, the youth organization has over 200,000 members, with a target to have one million members by the end of 2018.