IRYD’s co-President Moses Gashirabake wins REPAF’s 2017 award for exemplary civic engagement
Montreal, Canada | Last Updated: May 15, 2017 10:08 AM EDT
On Saturday 13 May 2017, Moses Gashirabake, co-President and co-Founder of the International Rwanda Youth for Development (IRYD) was named recipient of the 2017 award for his exemplary civic engagement (Citoyen politiquement engagé) by the Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionels africains (REPAF) in Québec, Canada. The award recognized Moses’ successful involvement as a youth organizer for Team Trudeau in the 2015 Canadian federal elections, his past work as president of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada (BLSAC) and for having represented Canada at the 2014 youth G20 Summit in Australia.
The award was presented by Madame Mary Deros, Deputy Mayor and Member of the Executive Council of Montreal in charge of economic development at REPAF’s annual excellence, vision and inspiration gala. Receiving the award, Moses thanked his family, his Rwandan and Canadian communities as well as his many mentors who continue to encourage him. At the colourful event, Moses was joined by his fellow IRYD executives Jaurès Habineza and Doriane Kundwa alongside members of the Rwandan Professionals Forum in Canada who came to support him. Also present at the gala were official representatives from Concordia University as well as the international business law firm of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.
Speaking to the media after winning the award, Moses stressed that the award was a win for youth within the Rwandan community in Canada. He stressed that “civic engagement is about serving others and giving a voice to those who are disenfranchised.” He also stressed the importance of youth to be involved in shaping decisions that affect them here in Canada and abroad and that civic leadership is not restricted to presenting oneself for elective office. Civic engagement also involves organizing for those whose values reflect the change you wish to see in the world.
IRYD congratulates Moses for this achievement and encourages him to continue working for the betterment of community. We also thank REPAF for its hard work in organizing a very successful gala that brought in leaders from all levels of government and business in Canada.
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IRYD Communiqué