English
Kinyarwanda
The Governor of the Northern Province, Jean-Marie Vianney Gatabazi has challenged members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing (RYVCP) in the region to equally use their forum to transform their lives.
He made the call on Friday while presiding over the meeting of youth volunteers in the province, held in Musanze District.
The meeting was also attended by the Northern Region Police Commander (RPC) Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Révérien Rugwizangoga, Youth Volunteer Focal Point for the Northern Province, Peter Ndayisaba, sector and district local leaders in the province as well as RYVCP district coordinators.
The Governor said that the youth has a bigger role to play in shaping the destiny of their country, but it has to start with individual development.
“Start by shaping your destiny and appreciate your individual successes, but also extend support to others. That way you will build true and meaningful development," Governor Gatabazi said.
“We have to see how to sustain and build on the youth volunteers’ achievements in human security starting from your homes to other communities that you support. Be exemplary in your respective communities so that other can learn from you; you cannot give people or tell them to do essential things, which you also don't have and desire," he added.
"Together, we have to transform the society but it is a continuous process."
The Governor, however, thanked them for their volunteerism in driving the community policing agenda through anti-crime awareness, and pledged to further support them in their activities meant to fight and prevent crimes, while promoting human security programs.
ACP Rugwizangoga challenged the youth volunteers to further strengthen the concept of Community Policing to ensure that crimes are efficiently and effectively prevented, to sustainably make Rwanda a more peaceful and secure country for fast development.
“There are issues of concern which require immediate attention; the issue of illicit drugs, child abuse, teen pregnancy and gender based violence require working together in raising awareness against them and educating people on their individual and collective roles to address the problem,” he said.
“We need to know who the drug dealers are and share information in real time to facilitate operations and their arrests to face justice,” he added.
He noted: “With the issue of illicit drugs being one of the challenges affecting youth development currently, and affecting other sectors like education and health, Rwanda National Police (RNP) has placed it among the urgent issues to address through continuous awareness to kill the market but also conducting operations to break chains of supply.”
He further urged them to work with integrity and patriotism in the continuous effort to ensure the country becomes crime-free.
Peter Ndayisaba said that they directed their human security activities to fighting crimes like drug trafficking and abuse, child labour and teen pregnancy but at the same time supporting disadvantaged families by constructing houses and organic gardens to fight malnutrition.
