Kurt Henne
Every Saturday evening in Kigali, something remarkable is happening. While the city hums with weekend energy and nightlife beckons, young people gather in Nyarutarama — not for dancing or drinking, but for dialogue. They’re here for “Meaningful Conversations,” an initiative that began in March 2022 with a simple vision: to create a welcoming space for open, honest conversations about the issues that matter most.
Launched by members of the Bahá’í Community of Kigali, the effort started as a twice-monthly meeting. But it quickly became clear that the hunger for connection and insight ran deep. Participants asked for more. So, the meetings became weekly—and they’ve stayed that way ever since.
“Our sense was that young people needed to be given the space and structure to explore the challenges they were facing and discuss these issues in a spirit of openness, respect, and shared curiosity,” said Armin Lalui, co-founder. The youth kept coming back and bringing their friends – typically between 10-25 participants on any given night.
What began as a simple experiment soon took on a clear—and deceptively simple—structure. Each session starts with warm introductions and an icebreaker question—like “What’s one thing that made you smile this week?”—to help people feel at ease. Then, the facilitator introduces a topic close to their heart, not with a lecture but with a spark: a quote, a short article, a question, a reflection, or a video. From there, the floor opens up with a series of questions to generate the sharing of perspectives and experiences.
More than 200 topics have been explored—ranging from deeply personal questions like jealousy in relationships and trauma, to broader themes such as environmental responsibility, faith, and the role of artificial intelligence in society. Examples include: The Dangers of Staying Too Long in Your Comfort Zone, Trauma and Resilience, Green Skills for Youth, Open Minds, and Open Hearts: A Laid-back Talk on Islam. Prosper Hagenimana shared “How to Hug a Porcupine’ has been my favorite so far—it taught me how to approach people in different situations. It also helped me learn to listen and respect other perspectives. It’s not always about who is right or wrong, but what you can learn through others’ lenses.”
Perhaps more inspiring than the range of topics is the change in leadership. What began under the guidance of two adults from the Bahá’í community has since evolved into a youth-led initiative, coordinated entirely by a committee of young participants. This shift reflects not only the growth of the initiative, but also the trust placed in young people to shape spaces of dialogue for themselves.
For many participants, the impact is deeply personal
“The Meaningful Conversations have helped grow my understanding that people don’t always have the same idea about a topic, and therefore improved my listening skills – to listen without expectations, judgement, and asking follow up questions. I have realized that “a community doesn’t necessarily need to be of individuals with the same understanding, but rather respect and love for one another despite all differences,” said Betty Mukankusi.
Another participant, Calvin Angelo, shared the following about his personal transformation: “I used to be argumentative, but the Meaningful Conversations have helped me work on that and start listening to other people’s ideas more vividly without intention to argue but rather with the intention to understand. It was my first time joining a community like this, and honestly, it has been so fun and enjoyable. There are no judges there – just open-minded people listening to understand, not to prove right and wrong.”
Ibrahim Musafiri shared: “Before, I was unable to listen without immediately reacting when something didn’t align with my beliefs. In this space, people relate more than on social media – we learn to listen, build confidence, make friends by actually talking to them.”
Conversations often close with a reflection: What did we learn? How can we use the insights from tonight in the coming week? Participants linger afterward, chatting and making new friends. There’s always a group photo, some kind of refreshments, and always laughter. And always, there’s connection.
In a world where young people are often encouraged to entertain rather than reflect, where public discourse can be judgmental and polarizing, Kigali’s Meaningful Conversations offer a gentler, wiser alternative. The gatherings are free and open to everyone.
In a fast-moving world that often rewards noise over nuance, these gatherings offer something rare: a space where young people have the opportunity not just to speak, but truly to be heard. As one participant put it, “This is the most valuable two hours of my week.”
Meaningful Conversations take place every Saturday night from 7:00-9:00 in a space generously provided by Vanguard Economics.
