Silindile Mbaza, the Vice President of Junior Chamber International has concluded her two-day visit to Rwanda

Five months after successful JCI Africa and the Middle East Conference held in Rwanda, Silindile Mbaza from South Africa paid visit to Rwanda to see whether JCI in Rwanda is still developing and to train some members of JCI in Rwanda.

This conference occurred a few couple of months ago, gathered leaders, entrepreneurs, partners, and stakeholders from around the world united to put together positive energies, intelligence and volunteering to create a positive change in respective communities and the world at large.

In an exclusive interview with InyaRwanda, Mbaza reflected on Rwanda’s distinct cultural identity, noting how it sets the nation apart from others. She emphasized that this uniqueness is contributing positively to JCI’s efforts in leadership development and community impact.

She said that young people in Rwanda are making a difference as they have already understood their role in promoting leadership and shaping young people towards development of this world. “Rwanda is making remarkable strides and having a significant impact,” she noted.

Silindile stated that “JCI has four opportunities that we give to young people to enhance their leadership capabilities. The first one is individual development that focuses on skills, community development, business and entrepreneurship because JCI gives networking with many people and the last opportunity is international cooperation because we travel twice every year to other countries for conferences and learning.”

Even though JCI in Rwanda has made good progress, Rwandans are still struggling to participate internationally but at local level and national level they are doing very well as Rwandan leadership put much effort into training and letting them feel that they have responsibilities to shape the world.

Silindile has highlighted the challenges JCI Rwanda faces in achieving the same level of development as its counterparts in Europe and Asia. Mbaza pointed out that Rwandans are still struggling to attend international conferences, which has limited the country’s growth within the organization.

“We still have to put enough effort at least to get 10 members from Rwanda in every international conference,” Mbaza remarked, urging local members to enhance their global engagement. She emphasized that increased participation in these events is essential for Rwanda to align with international standards and unlock more opportunities for young leaders.

To be a JCI member, you must be between 18-40 years old and to be a part of this organization as well as having teamwork quality which allows you to share thoughts and ideas with team members.

Currently, JCI in Rwanda has a hundred members but because of programs introduced, the Vice President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) assigned to Rwanda, Sililindile Mbaza has hope that at the end of this year the number will be increased because of programs that have been introduced.

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a global nonprofit organization that aims to empower young people by developing their leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and fellowship. JCI focuses on encouraging positive change through community projects, training programs, and leadership initiatives.

The organization operates through local, national, and international chapters, providing a platform for young people (typically between 18-40 years old) to actively participate in sustainable development efforts and connect with like-minded individuals.

Silindile joined JCI Cape Town in 2015, in 2017 she became the Local President. She then took in various positions in JCI South Africa. In 2021, she became JCI South Africa 2021 National President. Currently, she is the Vice President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) assigned to Rwanda. She has experience in leadership and other sub topics aligned with it.

The JCI Rwanda President, Umuhoza Amina (Right) with JCI Vice President Silindile Mbaza (Left)

Silindile Mbaza, the Vice President of JCI has concluded her two-day visit to Rwanda