The Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT) in collaboration with National Youth Council (NYC), One UN and other partners are hosting the fourth edition of the Annual National YouthConnekt Convention 2015.

Themed “Rwandans’ Choices –Foundation of National Development and Dignity”, the YouthConnekt Convention 2015 is taking place from 19th to 22th December 2015 at Remera Amahoro small Stadium. It brought together more than 3,000 youth.

Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, 20^th December 2015, Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana urged youth to make right choices to secure a better future not only for themselves but also the entire country. 

“It’s up to you to make the right choice for your future. The choice of what you stand for is what will determine your future. Once you make good choices, a better future is almost guaranteed,” Nsengimana told youth.   

Four main activities mark the Convention: YouthConnekt Boot Camp, YouthConnekt Exhibition, YouthConnekt Dialogue and YouthConnekt Performance Contracts. From 21^st to 22th, the Youth will participate in National Dialogue known as “Umushyikirano”.

Youth entrepreneurs who participated in exhibition have had opportunity to learn from others and publicise their projects. Again, 90 youth with different business ideas or start up projects have had opportunity to be trained by different experienced trainers from Technoserve, Dot Rwanda, BDF, Mount Kenya University, Akazi kanoze, and others before they engage in business competition. From this competition, 30 youth entrepreneurs have got award ranging from three million to five hundred thousand Rwandan francs.  

All 90 youth entrepreneurs in boot camp benefited study tour in IPRC Kigali, Cooperative d’Art Plastique de Kigali (CAPLAKI) and Gako farming depending on their field.

The inaugural YouthConnekt Convention took place in 2012 with the purpose of establishing a platform to allow Rwandan youth (in the country and in the diaspora) to showcase their potential and provide their contribution towards Nation building.