Over 2,000 Rwandan youth living in Canada and the US will meet during the 2023 Rwanda Youth Convention, in Ottawa-Gatineau, to connect with their roots, celebrate their culture, and engage in meaningful discussions about their role in the development of their host countries and Rwanda.
The meeting is scheduled to take place from November 25 to 26, this year under the theme: "Uniting Rwandan Youth Abroad".
According to a statement from the Rwanda Embassy in the US and Canada, in an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of fostering a sense of unity, identity, and shared purpose among Diaspora communities cannot be overstated.
The 7th edition of the convention, organised by the International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) in partnership with the Rwandan Community Abroad (RCA) - Canada and the United States Rwandan Community Abroad (USRCA), aims to nurture the growth, potential, and unity of Rwandan youth living in North America and around the world.
The International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) is a forum of alternative and independent young people whose mission is to strategically inspire young Rwandans and African descendants in Canada, the US, and around the world to get involved in the economic development of their countries and their host country, Canada.
High Commissioner of Rwanda to Canada, Prosper Higiro, stated the Embassy of Rwanda to Canada is thrilled to participate and collaborate with IRYD Canada for the upcoming Youth Convention.
"The generations following my own are an integral part of our development as a nation whereby each one provides a unique prospect to a successful future. It is with utmost intention and purpose that we invest in the potential of young Rwandans not only in North America but everywhere.
This convention will serve as an opportunity to connect within our community, inspire young Rwandans living abroad, and most importantly share knowledge and learn from one another."
Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of Rwanda to the US, said the forthcoming Rwanda Youth Convention in North America vividly reflects the unwavering commitment of the youth to the development of their homeland and their earnest pursuit of a progressive connection with their Rwandan heritage.
"It attests to the depth of their enthusiasm in heeding the advice and guidance of our exemplary leader H.E. Paul Kagame; enjoining them to pick up the baton of leadership and to perpetuate the unbreakable Rwandan spirit for generations to come," she said.
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Moses Gashirabake, co-president and co-founder of IRYD, said IRYD has always believed in the potential of the Rwandan youth to drive positive change and contribute to the development of both their host countries and Rwanda.
"The convention is a manifestation of this belief, and we are thrilled to have come this far, uniting youth from different corners of the world, fostering discussions on crucial topics like the role of Rwandan youth in development, demystifying the entertainment business, mental health, and our evolving Rwandan identity," he said.
Doriane Kundwa, Vice President of IRYD and Miss Rwanda 2015 added: "As we stand on the threshold of the 2023 Rwanda Youth Convention in Ottawa-Gatineau, I am filled with immense excitement. This convention is more than just a gathering; it is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the growth, potential, and unity of young Rwandans living in North America."
The convention covers a diverse range of topics, including the role of Rwandan youth in development, demystifying the entertainment business, mental health, and the evolving Rwandan identity today.
The convention had a brief hiatus in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is now poised to return with even more vigor and enthusiasm.
