Together towards excellence: Don Bosco TVETs in Rwanda and Uganda Hold Training of Trainers on DBTA Revised JSO Manual and Gender Mainstreaming.

From 5th to 9th May 2026, Don Bosco Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions from Uganda and Rwanda are participating in a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop aimed at strengthening the role of Job Service Officers (JSOs) and Gender Officers. The training is taking place at Don Bosco Namugongo in Uganda and Don Bosco Hospitality Centre Gatenga in Rwanda.

The ToT focuses on the Revised Gender-Mainstreamed Job Service Officer Quality Manual (3rd Edition, 2026) used in Don Bosco TVET centres. It brings together Job Service Officers and Gender Officers from Don Bosco Muhazi TVET School, Don Bosco Gatenga TSS, Don Bosco VTC Palabek, Don Bosco VTC Bombo and St. Joseph VTC Kamuli plus PDO team.

The revised JSO Manual 3rd Edition serves as a strategic “Road Map” designed to elevate Salesian TVET centers from minimum performance levels to verified levels of excellence centred on 6 essential Missions and a formalized five-step transition process; Preparation, Search/Networking, Pre-placement, Placement, and Sustainable Livelihood, the manual ensures that every trainee is holistically supported beyond the classroom.

Crucially, gender mainstreaming and inclusivity are woven into the very fabric of the JSO manual. The training empowers officers to identify “gender blind spots” and utilize disaggregated data to ensure no young person and persons with disabilities is left behind in the journey toward dignified work. It aims to equip Job Service Officers and Gender Officers with practical tools and knowledge needed to effectively implement the Revised Gender Mainstreamed JSO Quality Manual. The updated manual emphasizes moving beyond minimum performance standards toward levels of excellence in the delivery of job placement, career guidance, and employment support services for TVET graduates.

In the opening remarks, Fr. Henry Ssemakula, facilitators Ms. Ogwang Prossy Charlotte and Mr. Mutala Innocent reminded participants to advance Don Bosco’s vision of education that transforms, uplifts and opens doors for every young person, especially the most vulnerable and observed that the role of Job Service Officers is extremely important in supporting the transition of young people from training to employment.

They emphasized that JSOs themselves must take the lead in making their work visible and impactful so that more young people can benefit from the services provided by Job Service Offices.

“ Your work is very important, but you must also make it known so that it can help many people,” they noted. You are the ones who must make the Job Service Office grow. If you carry out your mission well and do it with love, patience, and passion, it will certainly benefit others and also bring value to your own lives. ”

The training represents another step in Don Bosco’s continued commitment to improving youth employability and promoting inclusive education across TVET centres in the region. By strengthening the capacity of Job Service Officers and Gender Officers, the initiative aims to ensure that graduates from Don Bosco institutions receive not only technical training but also comprehensive support in accessing dignified employment opportunities.

Through collaboration between TVET institutions in Uganda and Rwanda, the ToT is expected to foster shared learning, improved practices, and stronger systems that empower young people to successfully transition into the world of work.

This initiative is a cornerstone of the “Gender Matters for Green TVET” program (2023-2026), a four-year project implemented with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building market-responsive TVET systems that foster economic resilience, social justice, and fraternity across the AGL Province.

PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/187043756@N04/albums/72177720333518639