ABSTRACT

The Study assessed he impact of Youth Involvement on National Development Projects: A Study on the Agricultural development projects Led by Yalla Yalla Group (YYG) under RAB-Rwanda a country which is experiencing rapid economic growth and characterized by a predominantly youthful population. Despite economic progress, Rwanda faces challenges such as insufficient job creation and inadequate economic infrastructure, leading to persistent issues of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among the youth. In response to these challenges, Yalla Yalla Group (YYG), comprising young professionals, directs its efforts toward agriculture development projects. The research objectives encompass evaluating the effectiveness of YYG's projects, examining socio-economic benefits, assessing the impact on community development, and exploring potential barriers to success. The study population comprises 198 individuals actively involved in YYG projects, with a sample of 132 determined using Slovin's formula through convenient sampling. Quantitative data is collected through a structured questionnaire and statistical analyses, including SPSS and multiple linear regression, are employed to scrutinize hypotheses. The findings reveal a highly significant positive correlation (r = 0.977, p < 0.01) between "country development" and "young people involvement," indicating a strong linear relationship. The F-statistic of 219.903 emphasizes that the predictors significantly explain variance in country development beyond chance. Specifically, the study highlights that increased involvement in agriculture is associated with higher levels of country development (coefficient: 0.506, t = 5.500, p < 0.001), underscoring a positive relationship. Livestock involvement, while statistically significant (coefficient: 0.017, t = 0.097, p = 0.003), exhibits a limited impact on country development. In contrast, higher engagement in business and entrepreneurship significantly correlates with increased country development (coefficient: 0.919, t = 4.963, p < 0.001), emphasizing a strong positive relationship. Additionally, heightened participation in environmental conservation is linked to elevated country development (coefficient: 0.157, t = 3.049, p = 0.003). 

Keywords: Youth Involvement; National Development Projects; Agricultural Development; Youth-Led Initiatives; Sustainable Development