Gender Matters for Green TVET Project Graduates New Cohort at Don Bosco Muhazi

The fifth cohort saw the graduation of 19 students, who had started as 20, but one discontinued the studies due to personal reasons. Among the 19 graduates, there were two young men and 17 young women.

Mrs. Aurore Niyitanga, the Gender Officer, stated that they completed the six-month journey as planned, noting that while there are always challenges, solutions are continuously sought. Beyond providing knowledge in modern agriculture and animal husbandry, the students receive various counselling sessions to help them overcome isolation, as a large number of them share similar problems.

She said, “The knowledge they receive during the six months is not something we wait for them to apply only after graduation. Instead, they begin to receive support at home as soon as they join the program. They are given things like seeds or livestock so they can start learning while also improving their livelihoods.”

Adeline, a 23-year-old mother of two, shared that she joined the “Gender Matters” project with various challenges, but as time went on, she gained more self-confidence.

She explained, “The first thing I gained was  modern farming practices, the second was modern animal husbandry, and furthermore, they supported me with capital to start a small business. I can now support my family, which is different from how things were before.”

Her colleague, Israel Ndayishimiye, also confirmed that the lessons they received are vital and they are prepared to continue using the knowledge gained to develop themselves. He said, “These lessons taught me how to save, modern animal husbandry, proper land management, and more.”

He added that he used to be idle with nothing to do, but that has now changed, as he has achieved progress and remembers where he started.

Mr. Nzaramyimana Leonidas, the Job Service Officer for the Gender Matters for Green TVET project, expressed satisfaction that the students completed the six-month journey. He noted that at least three of the graduates have already found employment through the project’s efforts to connect them with institutions that offer jobs. He believes the knowledge they have received is sufficient, and the remaining task is for them to apply it in their post-graduation lives.

The “Gender Matters for Green TVET” project is funded by Austria through the Austrian Development Cooperation, in partnership with Jugend Eine Welt, and implemented by the Salesian Planning and Development Office in the Africa of Great Lakes Province.