Don Bosco TVET Instructors Convene in Kigali for Specialized Green Skills Training

KIGALI – A vital three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) session commenced on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Don Bosco Hospitality Centre in Kigali. The event has brought together educators from Don Bosco TVET centers in Uganda and Rwanda to equip them with advanced skills in environmental sustainability.

The training is a core component of the “Gender Matters for Green TVET Project,” designed to “retool” instructors in specific trade areas, including plumbing, electrical, solar, and agriculture.

Innocent Mutala, the Programs Manager for the project, explained that the training introduces “green modules” as an addition to the standard national curricula followed in Uganda and Rwanda. “We have tried to look at what are the gaps around greening in the current curriculum,” Mutala stated, noting that the new modules provide additional content to what the governments have already offered.

Bridging the Gap in Technical Education

The primary objective is for teachers to return to their respective centers and integrate these environmentally sensitive practices into their lessons. By doing so, the project aims to ensure that graduates enter the workforce “more conscious on their actions” so that their professional activities “do not harm the environment”.

Mutala emphasized that inclusivity is a central pillar of these modules. “Our activities, our actions affect the environment,” he noted, explaining that the curriculum “cuts across all genders,” recognizing that environmental impact is an issue relevant to both men and women.

Father Servilien Ufitamahoro, the Director of the Salesian Planning and Development Office, officially opened the session, highlighting the importance of “ongoing or continuous formation” for educators.

“It is crucial for everyone to learn something new each day,” Father Servilien told the attendees, urging them to “open our minds and embrace new knowledge”. He stressed that the goal of the training is to better equip instructors to assist their students, but this requires more than just attendance. “Simply being present is not enough; we need to participate actively,” he said, encouraging the sharing of experiences among peers.

This initiative is supported financially and technically by Jugend Eine Welt and the Austrian Development Corporation. Father Servilien expressed gratitude for this support and for the willingness of the instructors to help others, declaring the session open for active engagement and learning.