Women From Rwanda

"Court would decide whether to refer the case to arbitrators or proceed with it when hearing resumes."

"No one is perfect; if someone makes a mistake we shouldn’t be quick to judge them just because they are public figures. One can barely know what really transpires and making irrational comments can only hurt people."

"I am known through Sweden as a Rwandan girl due to singing and making records of Rwandan culture and guess what, has made me famous and earns me a living, basically it pays my bills"

"Being a female celebrity puts one under constant evaluation and criticism. What can be done by an ordinary person and tolerated by society is a scandal if you do it."

"The music business is highly dominated by men and I truly believe that the only way we can navigate it safely as women and even take control of our careers is by coming together like this,"

"She instead said people should spend their time wisely, minding their own business instead of interfering with her private life."

"From my small research I realised that we do not have adequate information, like how desertification is affecting Rwanda, how we respond to this, how much are we saving or losing, the soil erosion going on and so forth."

"We engage with other youth through a series of events organised in schools; that is, capacity enhancement in different areas and elevating our country’s experience beyond our borders to advocate for proper youth inclusion in climate action."

"We work closely with the government on a vast level that allows us not only to augment our voice as active stakeholders but also by equipping us with a safe space to learn how to reshape our vision and engagement while receiving capacity enhancement platforms that help us contour an enhanced future."

"In rural areas, for example, people just know that Rwanda is a beautiful country but they do not know how to keep the land sustainable, and how to practice more in conserving the environment. This is a big challenge because rural people are more vulnerable to global warming but they don’t know how to protect themselves from that."

"During my course, I realised that in terms of land neutrality, Rwanda can do more, and that was my inspiration. The land environmental engineer is one that can take care of the environment and community because both of them can live in harmony in order to attain sustainable development."

"UNCCD stepped forward in opening a door for the youth around the globe in order to mitigate and adapt to this by also protecting the environment for us and the future generation."

"I am working hand-in-hand with the youth who graduated from University of Rwanda to design the project which will have a positive impact on the environment and the agricultural sector. This is the starting point in the process, to have more youth fighting for suitable land management in the region"

"Through her unwavering determination and mobilization efforts, Ineza continues to inspire a new generation of environmental activists, empowering them to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond."

"The future for us is going to be achieved if we address the climate crisis to the full extent of its magnitude, that it is happening right now."

"We realised that, although people were being recommended to stay indoors, for some of us it was not the case. That was the same year that Rwanda experienced serious flooding, and people were not able to stay indoors to protect themselves from Covid-19."

"Also, minor research I did in 2016 showed that girls graduating in hospitality and hotel management did not have jobs because they do not know where to turn to. I thought of a sustainable and reliable project that can connect the two parties and create an open platform for the youth and help working parents feel better at work."

"We are living in an era where climate change is interlinked with every sector, especially sustainable economic development sectors for communities, but then we are not having the same urgency of action in the political phase."

"The ceiling disappeared, and I remember being woken up and feeling like I was drowning because of the rain."

"I am honoured and grateful because it is like a simple highlight and recognition of how much the world is ready to understand and take risks in investing in working with today’s generation."

"e are the generation that is past the phase of only blaming leaders because we are also pacing the solution."

"When I finished secondary school, I had the option to go for civil engineering or water and environmental engineering but when I searched the Internet and saw the global wars of climate change, I realised that environmental engineers are the ones able to find solutions and that is how I opted to be an environmental engineer."

"We started growing vegetables. However, we faced the challenge of lack of irrigation. We used to irrigate using watering cans manually. It was not effective. It was tiresome. We had to fetch water from the wetland using jerry cans and carry them on our heads up to the hillside. The partners then gave us irrigation facilities, and we are no longer recording the cases of malnutrition as food productivity increases ."

"The diesel pumps could not irrigate a big part of the land on the hillside. The solar-powered irrigation is currently covering all the hectares we have. We also save money to ensure the facility’s maintenance."

"Rwandan children need the Loss and Damage Fund because children are vulnerable. When you see what happened in Rwanda in May this year, schools were destroyed by disasters and children were much more affected. If the Loss and Damage Fund is there, they recover faster. The fund could help the country avoid heavy debt in rehabilitating the damages ."

"As we gather here today, we must remember that we have a responsibility to honor the legacy of those who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and ensure that we never forget the atrocities that were committed. It is our obligation to work towards a future where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, religion, and especially ethnicity."

"I am confident that through the latest digital developments, our customers will transition into best-in-class financial services. By increasing provision of capital to businesses for quality investment, we will also continue to support Rwanda's ambition to foster a private sector driven economy."

"Trusting the youth, supporting artists, and prioritizing the arts are fundamental pillars for building the future of our nation."

"Investing in youth and the arts is central to driving national development."

"Under the stewardship of His Excellency President Paul Kagame, the Rwandan government recognizes the significance of the creative industries. We are firmly committed to positioning arts and culture at the forefront of our nation’s growth agenda."

"MoYA will continue to incentivize youth through access to agricultural inputs, data-driven knowledge, and finance by collectively undertaking key actions."

"I want to thank Sherrie Silver for using her talent to uplift others, create opportunities, and showcase African artistry worldwide. This evening demonstrates how investing in young talent and prioritizing the arts can lead to national development—not merely for entertainment or charity, but as critical pillars of transformation and progress."

"Supporting artists goes beyond acknowledging their talent. It’s about empowering them to become influencers, educators, and ambassadors of our culture and values"

"We believe that this investment will not only catalyze the growth of Rwanda’s creative sector but also enhance Rwanda’s capacity to drive continental and international opportunities aligning with strategic objectives of the AU."

"Local and foreign investors need to view the creative industries not as a risk, but as a valuable opportunity that strengthens our economies, reiterating the importance of supporting the creative industries value chain, the creative economy is a tapestry of interconnected roles that contribute to a thriving ecosystem and fuel local economies."

"Art can be an important force capable of strengthening our national unity, while also acting as a catalyst for job creation, economic prosperity, and contributing to the overall enrichment of our society’s cultural heritage."

"We need to build the capacity of those who make the entire ecosystem of the creative industry such as the cultural managers who need to be trained with proper negotiations to protect the rights of artistes, the technicians who make the performance so much more enjoyable, the lawyers who are proficient in intellectual property regulations and negotiations, among others."

"Youth involvement in agriculture is essential for ensuring food security, affordability, and safety. Additionally, it provides opportunities for decent and productive employment."

"Together, let us light a path where art is accessible to all, and imagination is seen as a precious resource, to be nurtured from the youngest age."

"The Government of Rwanda acknowledges the vital role of arts in youth development and actively supports artistic endeavors such as the Kigali Triennial."

"We believe that Rwanda is a proof of concept. Rwanda was liberated by young people in their 20s and 30s."

"What we’re asking each one of you today is to realize your potential. Yes, it is scary, and I don’t mean to be patronizing because we’ve all gone through the phase of not being sure how it’s going to happen or what it means to fully embrace your Rwandan identity. But you have so much to offer, and all we’re asking is for you to give us a chance to dive into that potential."

"We know what music brings to our communities and to our economy because at the end of the day, it’s all about creative economy and when we talk about creative economy, we mean sustainable development of the entire economy of the country."

"Giving art and culture the respect they deserve will not only create jobs and growth but also shape Rwanda’s identity and secure Africa’s place as a global leader in culture, innovation, and creativity."

"Talent does not discriminate. Through stronger collaboration, we can unlock the potential of youth including the over 1 million out-of-school and rural youth, regardless of background, by providing access to quality training, and mentorship opportunities."

"You are at a crossroads in your lives where you have to make decisions. We ask that you base those decisions on research, knowledge, and taking the time to understand the causes of political shifts and changes in socioeconomic factors around you. Never think it’s over."

"The conference is a great platform to our creative industry since it brings together musicians and business people behind music industry to share ideas, discover local talents, share expertise and exchange ideas with international artists on how to do music as a business. This means that artists have a chance on how to learn more about earning from their creatives, technical know how about intellectual property law and networking."

"We trust your contribution will continue to grow as you innovate in modern technology, provide solutions to climate change, make informed decisions and engage in policies that advance your development and that of the country,"

"In Rwanda, we have come to deeply understand and respect the transformative power of culture. It has helped us confront historical scars, rebuild hope, and reclaim our voice in telling our stories"

"In Kinyarwanda, we say, 'Culture is our heritage.' It is our duty to safeguard, advance, and cherish it for a peaceful tomorrow."