Small and medium enterprises, locally known as Agakiriro, in Mayange Sector, Bugesera District, have helped employ hundreds of youths in the district.

Today, the Agakiriro programme is highly recognised as the engine of growth, creativity and innovation in the district.

The term ‘Agakiriro’ is derived from a Kinyanrwanda word ‘Gukira’ which means ‘getting rich’. Agakiriro can thus be literary translated as a place where one can get rich.

The small scale workers who earn their living by fabricating various products are referred to as Agakiriro artisans.

Scores of Agakiriro youths, who spoke to The New Times yesterday, said the innovation has helped create employment opportunities for themselves.

Omar Twizeyima, 27, said most entrepreneurs and artisans acquired their Agakiriro skills through on-job training and learning.

"Two years ago, I was on the street living as a destitute. I couldn’t even afford two meals a day. It was not until I joined Agakiriro that I started living a meaningful life,” Twizeyima said.

"I had no skill and just worked for others to earn a living. I later picked up interest in making door holders using scrap materials. This earns me about Rwf150,000 per month. I use the proceeds to fend for my wife and three children. I no longer have to depend on anybody,” he said.

Jean Damascene Niyitegeka, 33, said the centre had helped the youths in the area to steer away from drugs, adding that idle youth had become a nuisance in communities.

"Agakiriro is central to our lives. There is no more redundancy and drug abuse, as we spend most of our time at work. And it’s not just about what we earn, our work basically defines who we are as a people,” he said.

"It is also important to note that young people can be job creators. What we do has provided us with stable source of income.”

The project is part of Government efforts to promote both the informal and small scale enterprises as primary vehicles for socio-economic transformation.

The Mayor of the district, Louis Rwagaju, said small scale entrepreneurs should play an important role in economic growth and development.

"The government favours youth and women enterprises. This is an initiative that will help fast-track the country’s development. We want to promote and strengthen the long-term development of the sector in our district. Our challenge is to create more employment opportunities for youth so as to promote self-reliance,” he said.

According to a recent household survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), about 0.8 per cent of the country’s youths are unemployed while 64 per cent are underemployed. The youth make up 39 per cent of Rwanda’s 10.5 million people.

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