(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in the Great Lakes Province of Rwanda are working toward modernization of technical and vocational training for youth. The Salesian Africa Great Lakes (AGL) Province Job Service Office and the Planning and Development Office are coordinating with these efforts.

In October 2019, the AGL provincial administration convened a special meeting to assess the current situation with Salesian technical schools and expand efforts to create quality education. Speaking at the meeting, the Provincial Superior Father Pierre Celestin Ngoboka asked members of an ad hoc committee, specifically formed for this effort, to find solutions to address the existing challenges faced by Salesian technical and vocational training schools. The growing number of youth who want technical education is in part what sparked this renewed effort.

Brother Hubert Twagirayezu, director of the Salesian planning and development office, said, “We aim to help young people get the needed skills for the job market and plan to bring new equipment to the schools to help young people learn modern technologies as the world also keeps changing.”

He added, “We have started with technical schools in Gatenga, Rwanda where we have installed new equipment. We are working with DB Tech Africa to support our schools in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda with a detailed plan to also change school structures, construct new classes, build capacity in the schools and come up with environmental conservation initiatives taking into consideration the issue of climate change. We also plan to strengthen networking programs to promote the stakeholders’ partnership.”

Salesian missionaries have been living and working in the Great Lakes region of Rwanda for more than 50 years providing education and social programs to give youth hope for a brighter future.

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 percent of the population—face critical food shortages. Rwandans are anxious to move their country forward but need substantial help to do so.

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 percent of Rwandans live in poverty, according to the World Bank. Rwanda is a rural, agrarian country with about 35 percent of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture and with some mineral and agro-processing.

###

Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Rwanda – The year 2019 ends with the commitment of modernizing TVET Education in the Salesian Schools

Salesian Missions – Rwanda

UNICEF – Rwanda