With the aim to promote equal access to employment and jobs creation for refugees and members of the host communities, 248 youths from the Mahama refugee camp and Kirehe Host Community completed a 4-month successful training session in hairdressing, tailoring, welding, and plumbing, followed currently by a 3-month internship period. It is an intervention under the Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities-ECOREF, a GIZ-funded Project that the Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative-RWARRI is implementing through its TVET School AMIZERO located in Kayonza district.
Shemawase Charlotte, who won the certificate of excellence and a gold medal for her overall outstanding performance “Indashyikirwa” during the training period, expressed her gratitude to GIZ and RWARRI for offering this opportunity that allowed them to acquire practical skills that they need not become jobs seekers but jobs creators. “We are now skilled enough to realize equal access to employment for refugees and members of the host communities for enhancing our economic reliance,” she stated.
Ndayambaje Jean Pierre, the trainee winner of the “Imparirwakurusha” certificate and silver medal, revealed his intense satisfaction with all trainees in their respective trades. “Employability chances have increased, dependency on aids will be reduced, and our well-being will be in our hands,” he mentioned. Indeed, Ndayambaje confirmed that trainees in Hairdressing could perform different tasks/duties like hair shampooing and conditioning treatment, hair braiding, hair cutting, makeup, manicures, and pedicure. In the Tailoring trade, Ndayambaje added that trainees could make children’s and adults’ clothes, reparation, different types of cuts, and clothes finishing.
On her side, Mizero Blandine, the trainee winner of the “Uwihariye” certificate and bronze medal, indicated that trainees in the Welding trade could efficiently perform technical drawing, metal cutting, applying basics in electricity, performing metal windows and doors. Mizero also clarified that trainees could perform domestic plumbing works, sanitary fittings, and fixtures in the Plumbing trade and install domestic cold and hot water systems, underground drainage systems, and rainwater harvesting.
As advice for their future life, these trainees were reminded that wherever they go, they can never find money on trees or for free. “You always have to use the gained skills from this training and work hard to get money for your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your families and communities,” said the Executive Director of RWARRI, Uwizeye Belange.
Under the current ECOREF TVET project, 24 trainees are enrolled in Welding, 100 trainees in Tailoring, 100 in Hairdressing, and 24 in Plumbing.