Giving young people the opportunity to share their experiences and be heard can turn their ideas into meaningful action, educators and mentors have emphasised during the final event of the City School programme in Kigali.
The programme, organised by Narrative 4, brought together students from 10 schools at Kepler College after six months of storytelling, creativity and collaboration focused on identifying and addressing community challenges.
Speakers highlighted storytelling as an important tool in developing young leaders because it encourages empathy and helps students understand the experiences of people from different backgrounds.
By listening to others, young people can identify problems more clearly and develop solutions that respond to the specific needs of their communities.
Mutegarugori Gaudence, a teacher from Imubano Academy, said the students’ ability to recognise challenges such as poverty, malnutrition and literacy gaps was particularly encouraging, noting that young people sometimes identify issues that adults may overlook.
The programme also challenged traditional approaches to education, with one educator reflecting on the need to move beyond the assumption that teachers are the only source of knowledge.
The six-month experience, the speaker explained, demonstrated that educators can also learn from students, particularly their resilience, creativity and ability to develop solutions adults might not have considered.
The students also described the experience as an opportunity for personal growth. One participant said taking part was life-changing and marked their first time speaking before a large audience, while another highlighted the satisfaction of seeing a community-focused project successfully implemented.
Both expressed appreciation for the mentors and supporters who encouraged them throughout the process.
Looking ahead, Buci Onyegbule, Director of Africa Operations at Narrative 4, said the school planned to extend training opportunities to students from Senior One to Senior Six, helping younger learners develop the skills and confidence needed to participate in future competitions.
The initiative reflects Narrative 4’s mission to build a global community where young people learn and lead through curiosity, deep listening and imagination.
Its central message is that when young people are given a platform and adults are willing to listen, their voices can help shape practical responses to the challenges facing their communities.
