2011 Juno Award winner inspires youth to dream big.
Shad Kabango, 2011 Juno Award winner speaking to young youth of Rwandan origin on empowerment and daring to dream on June 26.
Eddie Rwema
Shad Kabango, 2011 Juno Award winner for best rap recording, took time of his busy schedule and spent the afternoon of Sunday, June 26 delivering words of inspiration to the youth of Rwandan origin.
The Vancouver-based rapper, who was in town to perform at the Ottawa International Jazz festival, spoke to the youth about making good choices and life decisions.
The young people had gathered at the annual youth empowerment conference organized by Rwanda Social Services and Family Counselling.
“Do what you love, be who you are, have some integrity and purpose in what you are doing,” Kabango told those gathered.
Kabango, who holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., and is currently working on a master’s degree at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, was born in Kenya to Rwandan parents and was raised in London, Ont.
Now an accomplished musician who has been able to make it here in Canada, Kabango realized he can have a huge impact on youth as a role model and calls it “an honour” to be able to interact with them.
“This is the community that I come from and grew up with, so it is great to be with them,” he said.
He counseled the youth, many of whom are university students, to think of things they are good at and work hard to improve on them and to become great at doing them.
“I learned that had work and being responsible has helped me a lot to be who I am now.”
He credited guidance from his parents and values from the community for keeping him away from negative influences growing up.
Odette Uwambaye, executive director of Rwanda Social Services and Family Counselling, said the conference is organized to dare the youth to dream big and become successful and useful members of the community.
Rwanda Social Services and Family Counselling provides a wide variety of social services and assistance programs to members of the Rwandan community in Ottawa.