Rwanda's President Kagame Holds Dialogue With Over 10,000 Young People at BK Arena: Urges Youth to Protect Their Health and Steer Clear of Alcohol and Drugs
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame engaged with more than 10,000 young people on October 21 at the MeetThePresident event at BK Arena in the capital Kigali, in an open dialogue with youth from across the country alongside government officials and representatives from sectors including entertainment and social media, KT Press reported on October 21. The session, which followed a previous meeting with youth volunteers in May 2024, was also attended by officials including Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana and Minister of Youth and Arts Abdallah Utumatwishima.
Kagame made personal responsibility the foundation of his message, warning that alcohol, drugs and habits accepted as normal can undermine young people's future long before they realize what they are losing, and arguing that neither punishment nor rehabilitation can guarantee lasting change if individuals are unwilling to change themselves. "You need to take care of your health because the other things will come only when you are healthy," he said. "No one is going to force you to be disciplined. You can learn from others how to be disciplined," he added, encouraging young people to use their time to acquire knowledge and improve their lives, and cautioning against blindly following what others consider acceptable.
Health Minister Nsanzimana reinforced the theme, challenging young people to reconsider the positive image often attached to alcohol consumption. "We must strip alcohol of the value it has been given and give that value to what deserves it. There is nothing good about alcohol, not a single thing. You can live without drinking it," he said. Kagame ended by urging young people to believe in their potential: "You are better than you think you are. You deserve more than you actually think you do. In between it's you to decide." (Compiled from KT Press, Rwanda, October 21)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 卢旺达 Kigali 的 BK Arena 实景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons 文件 BK ARENA(ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE).jpg，CC0 授权
