The lesson of history is clear: democracy always wins in the end. – Marjorie Kelly
Almost 60% of Rwanda’s population is made up of young people. Most of them were born after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – a dark time in history when democracy was threatened. It was a time when the regime abused the state, the laws, and used propaganda, fear, and terror to manipulate the people into committing wanton murders. Fast forward to the post-genocide reconstruction process that has not only focused on unity and reconciliation but on promoting democratic values and deliberately enhancing the participation of youth in the country’s development agenda. Today, the country is hinged on principles of accountability, transparency, and inclusive citizen participation.
To contribute to the Government of Rwanda’s efforts, Never Again Rwanda (NAR) in collaboration with varied partners provides safe spaces where young people and the community, in general, get to identify opportunities and raise social, economic, and political issues in their communities. On September 15, NAR convened over 100 youth in a national youth dialogue to commemorate the International Day of Democracy under the theme; “Strengthening youth participation in decision-making processes in a changing era.” Being a day that provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy, the youth, as well as other participants, used it to reflect on the necessary strategies to enhance sustainable peace and development through democratic values.
While kicking off the dialogue, the Executive Director at NAR, Dr. Nkurunziza Joseph Ryarasa emphasized the need to empower young people for them to meaningfully participate in decision-making processes. He also added; “For the society to grow and evolve sustainably, it must be hinged on democratic values where citizens especially youth are meaningfully and constructively engaged in both development and implementation of policies.”
The event was graced by H.E Ambassador Nicola Bellomo from the European Union Delegation to Rwanda. In his remarks, he said; “Democracy is an evolving concept with new opportunities for political participation but also for new challenges. He further noted that the EU doesn’t talk about youth, rather talks with them. He reiterated the delegation’s commitment to broaden engagement with youth and forge new partnerships with them, so they can meaningfully involve themselves in the development of inclusive and peaceful societies.
The interesting panel discussion saw youth and experts delve deeper into the challenges that impede the participation of youth. Some of the challenges identified included; COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment, teenage pregnancies, lack of knowledge about their rights and responsibilities, lack of access to the internet (especially in rural areas), and the inter-generational gap between youth and adults, where some adults disregard views and opinion given by youth or intentionally exclude them during decision-making processes. Kamariza Solange, a young peacebuilder called for devising solutions to these challenges as a way to strengthen youth participation. Youth were tasked to ensure they take action and become involved in governance processes beginning from the lowest administrative levels which not only enable them to contribute towards policies linked to them but also contribute to achieving the country’s development agenda. Jesse Shyaka from Rwanda Youth Organizations Forum encouraged youth to be more open-minded and ensure they are accountable to themselves. He also called on fellow youth to devise solutions to the challenges in their communities, rather than waiting for any leader, government agency, or civil society organization. From the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP), Dr. Eric Ndushabandi urged the youth to develop a zeal for knowledge by informing themselves about national programs and policies, so as they always give their contributions from an informed point of view. He also encouraged youth to respect diversity as they enjoy the freedom and effectively use social media platforms for educative, awareness, and informing sharing purposes. Bahati Omar, a visually impaired social entrepreneur said; “In our community of People with Disabilities, we have a slogan that says nothing about us without us. I urge youth to own this slogan. Nothing can be done for you without you.”
In her closing remarks, on behalf of the Rwanda Governance Board CEO, Judith Kazayire emphasized the importance of youth understanding Rwanda’s philosophy of democracy which is based on four pillars; people-centered governance, accountability in transformation, homegrown solutions (culture, history, and culture) and inclusiveness. She urged the youth to use their energy to contribute towards what has been achieved and to utilize the available opportunities, as they strive to make a difference in their communities.
As we continue to create safe spaces for dialogue about key issues in our country, we urge the youth to safeguard and nourish our democracy. We believe that without democracy, lasting peace cannot be guaranteed