Rwamagana Youth Receive Toolkits Worth Rwf 17 Million

The graduates, trained at Kwigira Vocational Training Center in Kigabiro Sector, were supported by Umbrella for Vulnerable in partnership with Muslimehelfen Germany. They include 58 tailoring trainees, 52 in culinary arts, and 40 in electrical installation.

Ambassador Sheikh Habimana Saleh, who helped implement the program, said it was designed to give youth marketable skills. “We chose practical trades so they could quickly enter the job market and improve their livelihoods,” he said.

Some trainees are already working. Kevin Nkomezi, an electrical graduate, said he began getting contracts after just six months. “Now I earn daily income and support myself,” he said. Parents also welcomed the program’s impact, with one father noting his son now helps pay school fees for younger siblings.

Rwamagana District Vice Mayor for Economic Development, Kagabo Rwamunono Richards, urged the graduates to use their equipment responsibly. “There is a ready market around you. What matters is integrity and professionalism in your work,” he said.

The initiative is expanding with support from the Islamic Development Bank, which is funding a new training center in Munyiginya Sector. Once complete, it will accommodate more than 400 students annually, all trained free of charge.

Organizers said the program is part of efforts to equip vulnerable youth with skills to fight poverty and support their families.