Bertin Kami 27, graduated from Rwanda’s National University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
Like many fresh graduates, he hit the streets in search for a job with academic transcripts stuffed in a brown envelope.
His luck was fading, he couldn’t find a job even after several attempts with job interviews that were futile.
He submitted his transcripts to different organisations including the Agriculture Research Institute-ISAR, Rwanda agriculture board (RAB), among others.
In December last year, upon learning President Kagame would attend a youth conference at Serena Hotel in the capital Kigali, the frustrated Kami swore not to miss the life time opportunity.
As President Kagame engaged in an interactive session with over 2000 youths from around the country on a range of issues and sharing experiences, Kami was contemplating on making a historic move.
Seated in the far back row, he raised his hand and was given a microphone. He paused before he spoke and created a moment of silence in the room.
Kami Bertin during Beyond this moment sessions with President Kagame.
He then hit the right code. “Mr. President, I am a graduate of Agriculture and I have spent two years looking for a job in vain,” he said. “I sat for different interviews with no chance,” Kami pleaded.
President Kagame laughed with a seemingly confused impulse. “Think beyond this moment. If I was like him-having studied agriculture, I wouldn’t be roaming around seeking for a job. I could seek for land and practice my agriculture expertise and generate wealth,” Kagame challenged the youth.
To cut the long story short, as Kami silently swallowed the President’s lecture, of which he seemed to have cared less about, the President finally delivered what mattered the most.
He ordered Agriculture State Minister, Tony Nsanganira, to handle Kami’s matter.
KTPress has learnt that Kami now works for the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP), a project with the ministry of agriculture as an agronomist.
As once Albert Einstein said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
While, Kami looked ridiculous in front of hundreds of fellow youths on a televised session, he is happily employed with a monthly salary of Rwf400, 000 ($600) as others languish in their homes waiting for the next job offer.
“I want to thank the President for getting me a job. I am happily employed,” he said.
