Project aims to empower people who are vulnerable

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Muhazi Technical and Vocational School in Rwanda has celebrated the graduation of 12 students who are single parents, including 11 women and one man. These graduates successfully completed training in agriculture and animal husbandry under the Gender Matters for Green TVET initiative.

This is the sixth graduation with students drawn from the Gicumbi and Gasabo districts. The graduates received certificates and farming tools during a ceremony held at Don Bosco Muhazi. The training equipped students with practical skills in sustainable agriculture, climate-smart farming, and animal husbandry to strengthen their livelihoods and improve the well-being of their families.

As part of the program, students received small livestock, including chickens, pigs, and goats, to help them establish income-generating activities. A newly introduced greening module focused on climate-smart agricultural practices such as intercropping with trees, soil conservation through terracing and the use of organic fertilizers to improve soil fertility while protecting the environment.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Aurore Niyitanga, gender officer for the Gender Matters for Green TVET project, said the initiative seeks to empower women who are vulnerable with skills that not only transform their economic status but also promote environmental sustainability.

Niyitanga explained, “These women came into the program facing various social and economic challenges, but today they are leaving with practical skills, confidence, and the means to build a better future for their families. Through green technical training, we are empowering them to become agents of change within their communities while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”

One of the graduates, Uwineza Belise, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting that the training transformed the way she approaches farming. She said, “Before, I only farmed for food. Now I know how to protect my soil, plant trees alongside crops and use organic fertilizers. These skills will help me feed my family and generate income as a single mother.”

Addressing the graduates, Father Frederick Murindangabo, director of Don Bosco Muhazi, encouraged them to put the acquired skills into practice and become role models in their communities.

He said, “Today marks not the end, but the beginning of a new journey. The knowledge and skills you have acquired should enable you to improve your livelihoods, support your children, and inspire other women facing similar challenges. At Don Bosco Muhazi, we believe that empowering a mother means empowering an entire family and community.”

The Gender Matters for Green TVET project is a four-year initiative, running from 2023 to 2026. It is aimed at empowering adolescent girls, young women and single mothers in East Africa through sustainable, market-relevant vocational training. Funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and designed by Jugend Eine Welt, it operates across five Don Bosco technical and vocation training centers in Uganda and Rwanda.

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Photo courtesy of AGL Planning and Development Office June 2026 Newsletter

AGL Planning and Development Office June 2026 Newsletter

Salesian Missions – Rwanda

UNICEF – Rwanda