Rwanda Launches ‘Smart Holidays’ to Equip Youth with Digital Skills

The program, named Smart Ibiruhuko SI25, is set to run from July through September 2025, offering free digital training to secondary school students, vocational learners (TVET), and out-of-school youth with a passion for technology.

According to the Ministry, the initiative is a key component of the One Million Rwandan Coders (1MRC) program — a nationwide strategy to train at least one million Rwandans in digital and coding skills over the next five years.

“This program is a critical step in preparing Rwanda’s youth for the demands of the global digital economy,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Structured learning for the digital age
The Smart Ibiruhuko curriculum is divided into three progressive tracks:

• Basic ICT literacy

• Software and web development

• AI project design and implementation

Courses will be delivered in Smart Classrooms located in public schools, at youth centers, in Hanga Hubs, and through select private institutions certified by education and ICT authorities.

The Ministry emphasized that this effort is aligned with the government’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which prioritizes digital innovation and youth empowerment as engines of socio-economic growth.

“We are not just teaching young people how to code,” the statement added. “We are investing in a generation that will lead Rwanda’s digital transformation.”

Bridging the regional digital divide
With East Africa emerging as a fast-growing tech ecosystem, Rwanda’s investment in grassroots digital education places it at the forefront of preparing its youth for 21st-century opportunities.

The Smart Ibiruhuko initiative is expected to boost employability, spark innovation, and support the government’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy.

Training will be conducted in collaboration with local and international partners, including Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation and the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), among others.