Empowering the needy through skills training

From childhood, Alice Uwimana, 25, only thought of becoming a health worker, something she never achieved. By chance, she became a tailor. Now a single mother, she does not regret the failure to become a health worker. Instead she appreciates, that she found something worthwhile to do. Born in Nyamata, Bugesera district, Uwimana lost both parents during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “After loosing my parents and family members, I lost hope in life because I knew that life had nothing good for me,” Uwimana says. Just like others out there affected by the tragedy, her chances of getting an education were completely cut-off since she could not afford school fees. “It took me by surprise when I was given an offer to join other trainees in acquiring skills in tailoring,” she recalls. Uwimana is among orphans and other vulnerable people including single parents trained in tailoring at no cost at Centre Culturel Islamique, in Nyamirambo. “It was not easy for me to believe until the day I started the training without paying even a coin,” Uwimana explains. At the age 20, as she was struggling to make ends meet, Uwimana tested what she described as ‘worst life experience’. “I conceived, unfortunately, the man responsible for the pregnancy disappeared and I have never seen him and the baby has made 4 years with out the father,” she says. However, the mother says that although there are still challenges, the skills she acquired have enabled her to take care of her daughter through her tailoring work. “At first, I had lost interest in life but today, I have hope based on the way God has made it possible for me to survive with my daughter.” In addition to the free services offered to vulnerable youth of different age groups as a means of empowering them to earn a living, the centre offers free medical services as well. The Director General of the Centre, Mahfod H. EL Roinia, told Sunday Times that an average of 45 patients get treatment everyday. “All patients are entitled to equal medical treatment. It is open to any patient who comes for a service,” Roinia says. The Director adds that although the facility receives patients with various complications, the majority are women and children. One of the patients who got treatment, Jean Mukakalisa, says that the centre has been a solution to her health problems for the last two years. “I always visit this medical facility whenever I have a health problem and even my neighbours come here for treatment,” says Jean Mugenzi, another resident of Nyamirambo who had also sought medical treatment. ESSI secondary school is also part of the centre and according to the headmaster, Isaac Munyakazi, until last year, students have had free secondary education. “Parents decided that it is wise for them to pay a certain fee to empower the school employ highly skilled teachers so as to have quality education,” Munyakazi says. The headmaster appreciates the parent`s strategy saying it has enabled the school employ the teachers it deserves. The headmaster notes that poor payment affects teachers’ work noting that it was a great initiative to introduce some fees as a necessity to improve and have quality education. “During holidays, students from different areas and schools sometimes lack what to do. We have therefore encouraged them to come here, learn, interact to avoid idleness that may lead to temptations hence getting involved in dubious activities,” Munyakazi says. Ends