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Rwanda
A new Youth
Centre was officially opened in Musanze District on 22 September 2023 by Rwandan Minister of youth Dr. Abdallah
UTUMATWISHIMA together with Ambassador of Belgium to Rwanda Mr. Bert VERSMESSEN,
Governor of Northern Province, Maurice GAHUNDE, DG LODA, Claudine NYINAWAGAGA,
Musanze acting Mayor Hamiss BIZIMANA, Enabel Representative Dirk Deprez, and Intervention
Manager of Enabel’s Urban Economic Development initiative (UEDi) Mattias PIANI.
Renovated
in a partnership between Musanze district and Enabel, the recently inaugurated
youth centre is part of the National Youth Council's 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, and
serves as a vital hub for young people. It was designed as a campus and built
with local materials.
The
facility offers diverse amenities including training halls, Fablab, Knowlab, a
library, artist workshops, IT services, and sports facilities like basketball,
volleyball, and handball. Located at the heart of Musanze, it provides a space
for skill development, creativity, and entrepreneurial exploration, empowering
the youth for self-reliance and contributing to the community's socio-economic
progress.
In his remarks, the Minister of youth said the youth centre “will be a
beacon of hope and sanctuary for young generation to aim higher, to think big
and act. It will provide them with range of basic services to meet their needs in
this evolving evolving world. The youth will have access to IT skills, training
equipment’s that will give them the tools to navigate the digital age successfully.”
The ambassador
of Belgium to Rwanda pointed out “It’s nice to see that Basketbll is not only
being played in Kigali, but also in Musanze”, what is really at the heart of
the project is innovation, employment and creativity he stressed.”
Musanze
district Acting Mayor further noted that, “The renovation of Musanze youth centre
made it possible to expand the infrastructure and services that are offered”.
At
the youth centre, COSMOGOLEM was launched
as well. A 4-metre-high wooden statue built by localartists from original idea
by Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, the statue is the symbol of hope and belief
in the future, of diversity and evolution which empowers young generations by
helping them find their own voice.
This project is already present in more than 40 countries in the world. Cosmogolem is constructed in Musanze
district youth centre. It is set to stimulate the
children in Musanze to express themselves through poetry, stories, dance, and
visual arts.
You can visit the Cosmogolem foundation website: https://www.cosmogolem.com
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