Experts and Non-Governmental Organizations and development partners have expressed the dire need for tangible investment in the young generation in which they would be empowered and enabled to participate in decision-making organs.

These were disclosed during the 4^th edition of the policy dialogue which took place at the Olympic Hotel in Kigali.

Youth Dialogue Model was initiated in 2019 as a safe space for youth to increase youth participation in policy and decision-making processes.

The dialogue also featured a sideline panel entitled “Equal power now” where Girls addressed their ability in the participation of decision-making.

In the same dialogue held for two days, young people who went under the training Generation leadership academy were certified.

Addressing a big crowd of over 300 youth members, Samuel Hakuzimana, the founder of the Citizen Voice and Actions (CVA), a youth-led organization that advocates for youth empowerment said Rwandan youth should be granted more favorable ground  

Hakuzimana said Rwandan youth should be empowered enough for them to take part in the decision-making processes wherever they are beginning in their communities.

He added that their goal as an advocacy group is to provide free space for youth to share ideas and debate the challenges they face as well as how to overcome them.

He emphasized that the involvement of youth in every stage of decision-making automatically makes them stakeholders in policy formulation.

William R. Mutero, Country Director of Plan International Rwanda in his remarks pointed out that they are looking forward to coming up with innovative, creative, and sustainable solutions aimed to benefit Rwanda’s youth in decision-making organs.

He, however, challenged the youth to play their part and urged them to abandon spoon feeding culture.

"Youth needs to think about what is important for them to serve as a foundation for those empowering them," William said.

Expected outcomes of Policy youth dialogue

It is expected that through policy youth dialogue proactive girls and young people will be ready to drive their change.

All participants were engaged in the keynote speeches, open debates, and panel sessions as well as participating in group discussions of the inclusive debate is expected to inspire, motivate, and empower youth to be the catalyst of change in proving solutions for governance and inclusive development challenges.

CVA’s major interventions are centered on Governance and Youth Engagement, Gender transformation, child protection, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The organization’s commitment is to prepare girls and young people to be the drivers of change, increase their participation in policy and decision-making processes, and empower them to be part of the decisions that shape their lives.

At the event, CVA in collaboration with CLADHO collected youth priority demands regarding the national budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024, a move which will cater to the youth's unheard demands if catered for.