TCU played host today to the first annual Rwanda Youth Forum, a sign of continued closeness between the university and the small central African nation.

Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, headlined a panel that discussed the future of Rwanda. Zain Verjee, a former CNN reporter, moderated the panel which included Rwandan scholars and academics Charity Kabango, Aloys Zunguzungu and Ephraim Rwamwenje.

The event was not sponsored by TCU, but comes amidst university initiatives to globalize the campus. Two years ago the Intensive English Program awarded Yannick Tona – a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide – a full scholarship to learn english at TCU. Since then, three more scholarships have been awarded. In April, the IEP hosted an event to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the start of the Rwandan Genocide.