I am Eugene Sindikubwabo from Rwanda.
About my experience in Rwanda for youth.
Rwanda’s vision for agricultural transformation and development toward food security and attainment of per capita income of $1240 by year 2020 requires working with the youth as “the most energetic segment of the labour force”.
“Government and other partners should continually motivate and keep the youth in the driving seat in agriculture transformation. It is important to help the youth throughout the value chain. The youth also need to work with financial institutions to give tcreate more opportunities,” he noted.
Quoting a United Nations Environmental Programme 2015 survey, Africa has the largest population of young people in the world, with 226 million people aged 15 to 24 years old in need of sustainable employment.
“Each year, young people graduate from school seeking to enter the continent’s workforce, often with no success. The continent is facing a double employment crisis due to lack of jobs for the youth and an increase in the number of young people in need of work. Agriculture is the largest sector of employment where such youth have to exploit job opportunities and ensure food security,” he said.
Currently, agriculture contributes one third of the Rwanda’s total GDP while nearly 80 per cent of the population relies on the sector as the main economic activity.
“Considering that the agriculture sector meets 90 per cent of the national food needs and generates more than 70 per cent of the country’s export revenues, the youth should optimally be engaged and motivated in the whole value chain,” said Bucagu.
Figures show that youth in Rwanda constitute about 4.1 million, about 35 per cent of the total population. In urban settings, the youth are estimated at 25 per cent compared to 75 per cent in rural areas where agriculture is mostly undertaken.
“Rwandan government is making tremendous progress by establishing a youth-led umbrella for youthful organisations and individuals engaged in agribusines.
Question
1.c) In a country like Rwanda where telecommunication and internet is yet underdeveloped, how would you still make good use of the limited available resources?
Eugene Sindikubwabo