KICUKIRO - Over 80 Reach Up participants, Friday, graduated with certificates in technology, business skills and empowerment/livelihood.

The course was organised by Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), at Business Development Centre, Gatenga sector in Kicukiro District of Kigali.

DOT is an International NGO that enables people to access and apply ICT to create education, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Celestine Ubitsemunda, one of the participants from Rwamagana district explained how he benefited from the training.

"I began a poultry project through the knowledge and skills I learnt from the training. Today, I have 22 rabbits and 20 chicken, which also lay eggs that I sell.” Ubitsemunda said. "I also learnt how to find market for my business from hotels, restaurants and other market opportunities.”

The DOT Communication’s Officer, Grace Mugabekazi said that the Reach Up program at the Kicukiro Business Development Centre started in November 2010.

"The program has impacted 415 youth and women to date. Over 740 people in Kicukiro have been impacted through different partnerships,” Mugabekazi explained.

She disclosed that DOT plans to scale up in October this year and deploy 65 interns in the remaining communities across the country.

This is to contribute to the rural economic transformation and human capacity development as expressed in Rwanda’s Vision 2020.

Nyiramana Emilien, who graduated yesterday works with a tailoring company, Cocoki Cooperative, will be travelling to the United States to attend a workshop.

"I’ve got a chance to travel to the USA through the skills I got from here. I applied for a workshop organised by an American NGO and was successful,”Nyirimana said.

She says that she had got exposure, developed the business and trained over 50 women in different districts.

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