Youth in Rwanda

Youth in Rwanda constituted 40% of the resident population in 2012, numbering 4.1 million.^[1] The Republic of Rwanda's Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sports defines youth as those from age 14 to 35 years.^[2] Like many developing countries, Rwanda's population as a whole is quite young. Over 50% of the Rwandan population is under 20 years old and the median age of the population is 22.7 years old.^[1] Urban areas of Rwanda have a higher percentage of youth than rural areas, though 80% of young people in Rwanda live in rural areas. Youth constitute over 53% of the population within the capital, Kigali. The youth population in Rwanda grew by 30% from 2002 to 2012.^[1]

The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 destroyed the economy, government, and families. The slaughter of 500,000 to 1,000,000^[3] Tutsi and moderate Hutu also had a negative effect on children and vulnerable groups.^[2] Youth in Rwanda today represent a generation who were only infants during the genocide or hadn't yet been born. Current President Paul Kagame calls this generation "the new Rwanda," alluding to their experiences only living under the post-genocide, Rwandan Patriotic Front government. In order to create a unified narrative of the events of the genocide, the Rwandan government has developed educational and memorial programs. These government programs work to socialize youth with a particular, homogeneous narrative of the genocide in which they did not directly experience.^[4]

The effects of the genocide continue to impact the lives of all Rwandan people and have had specific impacts on young people's education, health, and family situation.^[2] With the destruction of the economic, governmental, and familial systems, an overwhelming majority of Rwandan youth live in poverty and do not pursue education past primary school.^[5] The genocide, increased rates of poverty, and death from HIV/AIDS have left over 95,000 Rwandan children and youth orphaned.^[6]