Organized by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, the Young Leaders Prayer Breakfast gathered over 600 participants, including youth, emerging leaders, and newlywed families, to focus on spiritual reflection and strengthening leadership at home and beyond.
First Lady Jeannette Kagame commended the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship for initiating this impactful event, highlighting its importance in nurturing leadership. She stated, "This initiative provides us with a valuable space to meet and reflect on our responsibilities as leaders."
Madam Jeannette Kagame discussed the global and societal challenges, including the rise of selfishness and diminishing family values. She emphasized, "Dear brethren in faith, we cannot ignore the troubling times we are living in, where selfishness and disregard for communal interests have grown exponentially. Family values seem to be sidelined, and the attitude of 'it doesn't concern me' has sadly become more common."
A strong focus of the prayer session was on supporting young families, especially newlywed couples, and exploring solutions to integrate leadership with family stability in the face of challenges.
The theme of the event, "Our Legacy: Building Sustainable Development and Stable, Secure Families," resonated with the participants as Rwanda continues its remarkable journey in governance and societal growth.
While Rwanda is celebrated as a model for development, concerns about escalating rates of divorce and fear of marriage due to responsibilities persist. These concerns have prompted some couples to cohabit without formalizing their unions.
Judicial data shows a promising reduction in divorce applications over recent years, with numbers decreasing by 7%—from 3,075 cases in 2022/23 to 2,833 in 2023/24 due to ongoing educational initiatives.
Pastor Hassan Kibirango of Christian Life Assembly delivered powerful teachings, focusing on families as the cornerstone of society. He explained, "The family is where God builds everything, including institutions and nations. It all starts with the family, which then expands to influence the nation."
He urged young people and emerging leaders to create families rooted in values and security: "In the family, people are rooted. It’s a home where individuals find refuge. For young people and emerging leaders, make your homes a place of belonging and shelter—a space where everyone feels respected and loved."
Building relationships on love was a key takeaway. Pastor Hassan continued, "The greatest value we have is love because everything begins with love. In the family, love is the foundation. Members of the family need to feel loved so that they can extend that love to others they encounter in their daily lives."
Moses Ndahiro, the head of Rwanda Leaders Fellowship, expressed deep gratitude to all attendees, including First Lady Jeannette Kagame. He acknowledged her and President Kagame’s support over the years, stating, "Thank you for walking this journey with us, for being valuable advisors throughout the years, and for the impactful results we’ve achieved from the advice you provided."
The event also featured inspiring testimonies from couples, including Pastor Lambert Bariho, Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, and the family of Dr. Thomas Muyombo and Tricia Niyonshuti.
Renowned musician Tom Close and his wife shared valuable insights from their 12-year marriage. They emphasized communication and understanding each other's preferences as key pillars in their relationship.
Pastor Habimana Didier, the sermon speaker, reinforced the significance of families as the foundation for national prosperity. "Our theme, ‘Our Legacy: A Leader with a Strong and Capable Family,’ reflects the importance of families as the seed God uses to bless the nation," he remarked.
He added, "To change the world, start with your family. When families come together in harmony, so will the world. Building peaceful and secure families is emphasized in many places, including the Constitution and the Bible. The family was established before institutions were created."
Young leaders gathered for a prayer session to intercede for the nation.
The session was attended by Madam Jeannette Kagame.
In her speech, Madam Jeannette Kagame commended the organizers and addressed key challenges facing Rwanda and the world.
Gender and Family Promotion Minister Consolee Uwimana was among the leaders who attended the prayers.
The event was hosted by Rwanda Leaders Fellowship.