Sandrine Isheja Butera, Vice President of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), has called on Rwandan youth to believe in themselves, work hard and embrace unity, saying Rwanda’s journey since 1994 proves that transformation is possible through collective effort and determination.
She made the remarks while serving as Master of Ceremony at the official opening of the 20th National Dialogue Council, presided over by President Paul Kagame.
Addressing Rwandans at home and in the diaspora, Butera reflected on the country’s recovery and progress since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, stressing that Rwanda’s development has been driven by resilience, shared responsibility and national unity.
“Fellow Rwandans gathered here and those listening to us across the world, if we consider who we were after 1994, the limited strength we had, the level and quality of knowledge we possessed, and the deep wounds we carried, yet we managed to become who we are today,” she said. “If we continue to stand together as Rwandans, where can’t we reach?”
She also recalled the history of the National Dialogue Council, noting that the first edition was launched in 2003 when she was only 15 years old and still a secondary school student, highlighting the long-term national journey of dialogue, rebuilding and transformation.
Her message to young people centred on self-belief, discipline and unity as foundations for Rwanda’s future, reminding them that the country’s history demonstrates that progress is not accidental but built through commitment, resilience and shared purpose.
NIYITEGEKA Jean D’Amour/TheKaminuzaStar