Overview

Youth centres are youth converging points that work under the patronage of the District authorities with an overarching goal of promoting youth development and ensuring their effective participation in the country’s development process. The purpose of the existence of youth centers is summarized in the need to tackle socio-economic development challenges faced by Rwandan youth. The services provided by youth centres are hinged on four main programs: Youth entrepreneurship and ICT promotion programme, Employability program, Sexual reproductive health program, talent detection and incubation programs. Across the country, we had 32 Youth Centres that are coordinated at the District level. As part of the decentralization of youth centre programs, a creation of secondary youth centres managed at Sector level has been found as a solution to deliver at least one or more programs to youth located in remote area. Currently, 14 secondary sites/sub branches have been developed and maintained to supporting youth centre at district level. According to Ministerial Guidelines No 01/7 of 10/07/2017 issued by Ministry of Youth determining Rwanda Youth Centre mission, organization and functioning; the youth centers offered different programs under 7 pillars such as Youth mobilization on civic education (1), Sports, Entertainment and Talent detection (2), Entrepreneurship and Economic empowerment services (3), Vocational trainings (4) ICT (5) and Health (6) programs. All of these programs constituted the Minimum Package to be delivered throughout each Youth Centre.

Category of Youth centers and services provided

 17 Youth centers provided the full Minimum Package services (Kimisagara, Rubavu, Muhanga, Nyanza, Kayonza, Nyamasheke, Kamonyi, Bugesera, Rutsiro, Kabuga, AGR Gikondo, Club Rafiki, Rulindo, Rusizi, Musanze, Kirehe &Ngoma,)

 10 Youth centers partially provided the full Minimum Package services excluding health services5(Gakenke, Rwamagana, Ngororero, VJN/Rubavu, Ruhango, Nyamagabe, Huye, Nyagatare, Nyaruguru, Gisagara, and Gatsibo) except Karongi youth center that provided some of minimum package services including Health program.

 3 Youth centers are not fully functional (Nyabihu, Gicumbi and Burera) due to limited staff and inadequate infrastructure.

Achievements for youth centres

On average at least 2 million of youth are mobilized and benefited the services of Youth centers’s programs across the country, despite all the progress made, Youth centers are still mainly facing different challenges including poor infrastructure, limited staffing, and limited financial support that need to be addressed for proper functioning in the future.