A “Rwandan Youth Summit” attended by 150 children of Rwandan refugees or who are themselves refugees was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA on June 30 and July 1, in an effort to bring children together to reflect on ways they might contribute to ensuring a peaceful future for Rwanda. The idea for the summit came from the annual general assembly of the Organisation for Peace, Justice, and Development in Rwanda (OPJDR), held in Raleigh in September 2000. Speakers noted the plight of Rwandan refugees in Africa and the need for a social identity. While this was the first year the youth summit was held, organisers were said to be “very optimistic” for holding future summits.
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