Youth are the leaders of today, not just tomorrow

Press Release: For immediate release, 24th September 2010

‘Youth are the leaders of today, not just tomorrow.’ 

The 2010 Nkabom Commonwealth Youth Leadership Programme came to a close with the declaration that in order to be the change they wish to see in the world, the youth must begin their work today.

Thirty-eight young people aged between 18 and 25 congregated in Kigali, Rwanda from 5-15 September for an interactive 10-day programme focussing on international understanding, peace building and conflict resolution skills. Rwanda, the Commonwealth’s newest member state and where the average age is 18 years, proved be an ideal setting for an initiative that propagated the potential of young people to be agents of peace and development. 

The programme began with an examination of Rwanda as a post-conflict case study: participants visited genocide memorial sites, heard from various civil society actors, including women and youth, and explored community projects aimed at reintegrating genocide survivors and victims. Interactive sessions were held to deconstruct conflict and expose its root causes; the group then moved beyond conflict to its resolution, exploring civil paths to peace, including campaigning, advocacy, and lobbying - and the role youth can play in this process. 

 The programme ended with a final consultation with His Excellency President Paul Kagame who urged the participants to learn from Rwanda and to ‘make it [their] second home’. He emphasised the potential of youth to be agents of peace if they succeed in harnessing the great pool of energy within them

The Nkabom Programme is the flagship project of the Royal Commonwealth Society, the oldest and largest NGO devoted to Commonwealth affairs. The word Nkabom (pronounced ink-a-bom) means 'coming together' in parts of Ghana where the programme was first held in 2004.

The 2010 programme was kindly hosted by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Commonwealth Youth Programme was a major programme partner while generous support was received from the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, the Zochonis Charitable Trust and the Open Gate Trust.

20-year-old Fale Andrew Lesa, representing New Zealand at the programme, said: ‘’Nkabom 2010 has empowered the young participants with the means to execute a youth-orientated contribution to the fields of peace-building and conflict-resolution. The emphasis on globalisation as an aspect of solution has provided participants with a valid international perspective, shielding youth leaders from the ignorance often associated to regional or national frameworks that fail to incorporate international dialogue.

Nkabom 2010 has been an absolute success, a life-changing experience, a thought-provoking journey of discovery. The opportunity to represent New Zealand on a global scale has been overwhelming, but the challenge has only encouraged me to aspire beyond current restrictions. New Zealand has a lot to be proud of on the grand-scale of global affairs. Our politics is world-recognised, our foreign positions have been the beacon of praise and recognition, our  global-advocacy has been the source of international knowledge and wisdom".  

RCS Youth Programmes Manager, Claire Anholt said: “This programme has further fanned the passion of these thirty-eight bright individuals who not only envision great change in their communities and in the wider world, but now also possess the will to execute it.’’

The Commonwealth Youth Programme:  Part of the Commonwealth Secretariat, CYP was founded to support the development of youth, who currently make up over 50% of the population of the Commonwealth.  CYP is an independent agency of the Secretariat, with four regional centres in Zambia (Africa), India (Asia), Guyana (Caribbean) and the Solomon Islands (Pacific), and with Headquarters at Marlborough House in London.  CYP’s programmes include youth representation through the Youth Caucus, youth enterprise and education.  For more details, visit: www.thecommonwealth.org .

The Ministry of Youth, Government of Rwanda:  Nkabom 2010 has been kindly hosted by the Government of Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth.  A team of ten members of staff have been working tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of the Programme, arranging a range of inspiring speakers, showcasing Rwandan culture and offering participants the opportunity to visit the famed Nyungwe National Park.  In addition, the Ministry has worked with a number of other Government partners to make participants’ visit to Rwanda as stimulating and enjoyable as possible.  For more details, visit: www.miniyouth.gov.rw.

ends

© Scoop Media