WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — Women in the country have been urged to take up jobs as drivers to improve their economic status.

Addressing women recently, Moses Munyamahoro, the district officer in charge of gender and family promotion, said for women to fully participate in the economic transformation of the country, they needed not to discriminate jobs.

"There is need for women to fully participate in the country’s development to achieve the Vision 2020. Rwanda still has limited employment opportunities compared to its citizens. That is why the government has always advised residents to create their own jobs," he said after officially launching a women’s cooperative.

The cooperative union named Pour la Promotion des Femmes was recently formed by women drivers in Gisenyi, meant to encourage women to join the driving profession through providing lessons and helping them get driving permits.

Through joining together in cooperative unions, he said, you should work hard to make the cooperative profitable; not only to the current members but also other capable women in Gisenyi sector and Rubavu district at large.

Munyamahoro thanked the founders for the initiative which he said will contribute to the country’s Vision 2020. Reaffirming the district support, to the newly created women cooperative union, he called upon members to recruit more members.

Commending the group, Mwanaisa Uwacu who represented the Gisenyi sector coordinator at the function urged women to turn up for the women’s day celebrations on March 8, to expose to the public their achievements and plans to promote women in the district.

She challenged women to change the mentality of relying on men as the bread winners. This, she said, call for hard work to promote their households.

Speaking on behalf of the members, Christine Gakwaya expressed optimism in improving women’s standards. She thanked the district for supporting gender promotion.

"I call upon women to join the driving profession because I know they are capable of doing it. I do it myself. I’m a professional driver at Gisenyi hospital," she said adding, it has helped me provide necessities in my household over time.

She noted that many women undermined their ability in the profession; but they could make better drivers, the reason the cooperative was formed to address that gap.

Ends