LabCitoyen 2017, the Tanzanian winner in Paris

The LabCitoyen is an annual French program, organized by the Institut Français in Paris, which is dedicated to young Francophones throughout the world who are concerned about human rights issues. The 2017 edition, from the 2nd to the 10th of July 2017, gathered 56 young citizens of more than 40 countries. Through a series of debates, workshops and visits of Paris, the participants had the chance to discuss and exchange views on human rights issues related to urban problematics. 

Innocent Willie Mrema, the winner of the LabCitoyen contest 2017 for Tanzania, was selected by the Service of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs of the French Embassy. He is a former translator at the Alliance française of Arusha and currently working as a volunteer at the Legal and Human Rights Centre of Arusha. During the program, Innocent Willie Mrema was elected President of the LabCitoyen 2017 thanks to his remarkable eloquence.

The Institut Français in Paris financed his stay in Paris while the French Embassy to Tanzania, with the support of the airline company Swiss, covered the trip to France.