‘Gender Matters for Green TVET’ project promotes gender equality in schools

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Gatenga Technical Secondary School in Kigali, Rwanda, celebrated International Women’s Day with a special event on March 10. The event featured a presentation urging girls to pursue technical subjects and highlighted the progress made in promoting gender equality at the school and the national level.

During the celebration, students sang, read poems and danced to honor the achievements achieved by women in society. One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of a student who distinguished herself in the last academic year. The recognition served as a symbol of encouragement for other girls to strive for success and break down barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

The event was part of the “Gender Matters for Green TVET” project, funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and carried out by Salesians in Rwanda and Uganda. A Salesian noted, “The project aims to promote gender equality in technical and vocational schools and improve the skills of young women, encouraging them to join professions traditionally reserved for young men.”

Don Bosco Gatenga has been at the forefront of gender issues in the region. Since its beginning in 1976, the school has welcomed youth in need. The school helps to prepare youth for the future and teaches them employable skills so that they will be self-sufficient and help support their families and the community.

Don Bosco Gatenga also features a large farm that has 26 hectares of land. Ten of those hectares have already been cultivated for farming. The food grown helps to feed the students in the school. Don Bosco Gatenga has seen more and more children who are undernourished and malnourished coming to the center. The number of students from poor families who want to attend the school has also increased.

Salesian missionaries provide a range of educational and social development services in Rwanda. Poor youth are able to access programs including health services, nutrition, education and general support services that help them to lead healthy productive lives.

After bravely overcoming the trauma of the 1994 genocide, Rwandans looking to transform their country have made remarkable progress. Still, much remains to be done. Close to 39% of Rwandans live in poverty, according to the World Bank. Rwanda is a rural, agrarian country with about 35% of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture with some mineral and agro-processing. Many of the country’s orphaned children are the tragic result of a violent civil war. Half of all children drop out of primary school and 2.2 million people — 22% of the population — face critical food shortages.

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Sources:

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ANS – Rwanda – The Don Bosco Gatenga TSS School commemorates International Women’s Day

Salesians of Don Bosco AGL Province

Salesians of Don Bosco AGL Province Facebook

Salesian Missions – Rwanda

UNICEF – Rwanda