Rwanda Water Resources Board research interns attended the Second Edition of Sustainable Leadership Journey which took place in Laguna de Bay and Paliqui wetland in Philippine, from 9th to 13th October 2023.

The purpose of sustainable Leadership Journey was to connect, collaborate and empower young generation to thrive in sustainability leadership in order to become the future lake managers.

Intern Jean Paul Urwibutso, one of the participants, expressed the invaluable insights and enriching experience he gained from this event.

“Engaging with a diverse array of young and passionate conservation leaders, students, and nature enthusiasts, we shared our environmental conservation narratives. Our collective experiences, spanning from humble beginnings to the present, painted experiences of our conservation journeys.” Said Jean Paul.”

Her colleague Ange  was impressed by the transformative potential of utilizing green filters in safeguarding wetlands.

“One of the most significant takeaways for me was the presentation on use of Green filter in wetland conservation at Panguil river Eco park. This filtering technique gathers all advantages of being environmentally friendly and provides efficient wastewater treatment. Green filters often attract wildlife related to wetland ecosystems having therefore a positive impact on biodiversity.” Said Ange Shimirwa.

Rwanda Water Resources Board and ARCOS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, which encompasses the establishment of the Center of Excellence in Water Resources Management. As part of this initiative, Ange Shimirwa and Jean Paul Urwibutso are serving as professional research interns.

They are conducting a research project named “The impacts of existing catchment restoration measures, on water quality and biodiversity of lake Kivu in Rutsiro, koko sub catchment as case studies”