RWANDA: Skills training helps provide hope for young mother
Students take courses as they struggle to overcome realities
RWANDA
(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, located in Rango, Rwanda, ensures youth who are vulnerable can access the skills training they need to succeed in life. Uwimana Patience is one student who has found hope through tailoring courses. As a single mother of a newborn child, she lives with her mother and faces significant uncertainty about the future.
“Our house is in ruins. When it rains, we have to leave and seek shelter outside to avoid getting wet,” said Patience. She explained that it is hard for them to eat and that every bit of money she has goes toward their survival. After attending her classes, Patience does whatever work she can find — washing dishes, fetching water and cleaning houses — barely earning enough to provide for herself, her baby and her chronically ill mother.
While Patience learns sewing techniques at school, she worries about her family. She said, “These courses are extremely important, but I can’t stop thinking about how to provide for my family.”
Poverty is a critical issue in Rwanda. The World Bank estimated that the poverty rate stood at 48.4% in 2024, a slight improvement from 2023, with projections suggesting a decrease to 47.0% by 2026. These economic hardships are further exacerbated by high unemployment rates and limited access to quality education and job opportunities for young people.
Patience’s story reflects the realities faced by many young people in Salesian vocational training centers, where students strive to gain an education while navigating dire circumstances. The center relies on the generosity of donors to support students like Patience, but the challenges remain overwhelming. Many graduates lack the resources needed to secure a stable livelihood and build a better future for themselves.
A Salesian explained, “Donor contributions remain the most effective way to make a difference and offer tangible support to individuals like Patience. Even a small contribution can lighten heavy burdens and provide the tools for a sustainable future.”
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
Salesian Missions – Rwanda
UNICEF – Rwanda
