From Youth Spaces to Illumineers: Building a Young Future for DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
Right from the moment we started dreaming about taking an active role in shaping the future of the Gorilla Highlands region, our foremost focus has always been on the youth. We see young leaders as the driving force behind the change we envision, while we stay open to unexpected inspirations and necessary adjustments.
The change of our program name from Youth Spaces to Illumineers is more than simply rebranding — it’s a reflection of the vision we hold for the change-makers of tomorrow. As our activities evolved through the years, so did our understanding of their purpose, and with that clarity came the need for a title that truly captures our essence.
We sought something that would spark inspiration, a word that would instil both ambition and responsibility in those who carry it. Illumineers embodies that: a fusion of illumination, a pioneering push and an engineering spirit, symbolising individuals who lead with wisdom, integrity, and a relentless drive to uplift their communities. It is a name meant to ignite pride in every member, reminding them that they are not just learning: they are actively shaping a movement rooted in knowledge, innovation and positive change.
In fact, when our go-getting sisters in Uganda took the necessary steps towards officially registering Gorilla Highlands Experts (GHE) in their country, they already included the new name. From now, anything GHE to do with the youth will proudly carry the Illumineers marker.
Overcoming Emotions
As I write this, I will try my best not to be led by emotions but rather by facts and the experience I have gained through engaging with our participants since 2022. I want to share with you how I believe deeper involvement of the younger generations is a necessary requirement for chieving lasting peace, a thriving transboundary economy and a sustainable region that truly values its unique biodiversity.
Why emotions? Unfortunately, as we speak, our brothers and sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are unable to sleep peacefully due to ongoing instability and one of the longest-running conflicts in the world. Pictures across the internet show heartbreaking scenes of displaced mothers and children from eastern Congo, deprived of access to basic necessities. Instead of helping each other, the way good neighbours should, the countries of our region are pointing fingers at each other.
When I joined the Gorilla Highlands team as a young university student from Kigali, Rwanda, I was excited about my internship in Musanze, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful parts of the country. However, upon my arrival — thanks to the Gorilla Highlands ideology — I began to see the reality of the bigger world around us. It struck me that I had been blind to the deeper issues at hand. So much needed to be done.
Our flawed education system had not informed me about the urgent needs of our communities. Instead, I had been programmed to enter a job market rather than look around the region and foster the real change our people desperately needed.
Why am I telling you this? Because, according to World Bank estimates, the DRC needs to create between 2 to 4 million jobs annually to absorb new labour market entrants and reduce youth unemployment. In Rwanda, at least 200,000 youth join job-seekers each year. Uganda sees over a million young people doing the same. How can we provide these future generations with useful resources that enhance their creativity and ability to build sustainable livelihoods — without harming the environment or turning to conflict?
As Illumineers, we believe that we must rethink how we deliver information and education resources to young people. The Economist aptly put it in a special report: Africa is undergoing social change without economic transformation and there is absolutely no escape, we have to equip our youngsters with knowledge and skills that drive real progress.
But let’s pause for a moment and ask ourselves: What can we do? What have we done?
Looking Back to See Ahead
In our multi-year series of Youth Spaces/Illumineers articles, we haven’t only shown you all the attractive action, we have ventured into the core philosophies of the program and highlighted the resources required to continue making a meaningful impact. So far we have made small but absolutely not insignificant steps, impacting over 150 young people with skills and other inputs.
Since Christmas 2022 when we hosted our first regional activity — the Friendship Camp at Lake Burera — we have been shaping young minds relentlessly. That weekend gathering brought together over 20 young leaders from across the region, marking the beginning of a mindset shift for everyone, including me.
The following year we launched the first business accelerator cohort in Musanze, featuring 26 participants and resulting in one viable enterprise. Before 2023 ended we again invited our peers from the neighbouring countries to Burera for a three-day camping experience with 18 participants. We were amazed by the enthusiasm of the youth and inspired by our friends from across the globe, mentors who are real experts in their fields.
In 2024 we held the second Musanze cohort, with 27 entrants introduced to our activism. At least four businesses were created but, most importantly, we kept challenging the way young people think, rejecting what is wrong in their communities, and fostering long-term collaboration for the region’s greater good. We are currently in the process of fundraising for the Friendship Camp to complete these sessions.
In summary, we have been running a three-month program in Musanze once a year, accompanied by an international camp on Lake Burera. We feel it would now be worthwhile to both increase the frequency and expand beyond Rwanda. With eastern Congo in turmoil, Uganda should automatically be our next destination.
As always, we need your help to create a whole new generation of Illumineers. We are calling upon all of you who are inspired by our mission to contribute their time, resources and ideas — whether you are in the region or far away — to help our youth realise their full potential. We can’t wait to hear from you!
