Diaspora Youth Return to Reconnect With Rwanda

Sixty young Rwandans from the diaspora are spending two weeks in Rwanda as part of the Rwanda Youth Tour, a program designed to reconnect them with their heritage and inspire their contribution to national development.

The youth, coming from the U.S., U.K., Italy, Uganda, Senegal, Belgium, and Canada, are visiting historical sites, meeting with institutions, and learning about the country’s past and progress.

Some participants are visiting for the first time, having been born abroad to parents who left Rwanda. Others left the country at a young age and are returning to deepen their understanding of their homeland.

The 2024 tour kicked off with a visit to Nyandungu Eco Park in Kigali, following a welcome by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) and the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development.

“They love their country and want to be part of its future,” said Virgile Rwanyagatare,The Directorate General of Asia and Pacific at MINAFFET. “They are here to learn where Rwanda has come from—including the Genocide against the Tutsi—and where it’s headed.”

Now in its fourth edition since 2021, Rwanda Youth Tour has helped boost diaspora involvement in areas such as education, skills transfer, and investment.

State Minister for Youth Sandrine Umutoni said many diaspora youth arrive with limited knowledge about Rwanda’s history and post-genocide recovery.

“Some don’t fully understand what caused the Genocide, how it was stopped, and how peace was restored,” she said. “By the time they leave, they better appreciate Rwanda’s values—unity, reconciliation, and inclusive development.”

One of the returning participants, Musinga Dethier Calliste, said the program motivated him to invest back home.

“Doing business here feels like working at home,” he said. “It’s not just about profit—it’s about giving back to my country.”