Members of the Diaspora urged to return

In a bid to woo Rwandans living abroad, members of the Diaspora have been urged to return home and fill the much needed skills and knowledge gap. This was during the first ‘Diaspora Career Day, where prospective employers interacted with members of the Diaspora in Kigali. Over 35 companies participated in the one-day event which was jointly organised by Jobs in Rwanda Ltd, an online recruitment agency operating in Rwanda and Wakening Abilities for the Future (WAF), a Belgian-based association of young Rwandan professionals and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Service. Over 200 members of the Diaspora participated in the Career Day, the majority depositing their CV’s with prospective employers, among them telecom firms, educational institutions and banks. In an interview with The New Times, the Director General of the Diaspora Directorate, Parfait Gahamanyi, said that the event would take place every year. “We think Rwandans in the Diaspora can play a vital role in the development of the nation. The most important thing is that this idea came from Diaspora members. So the government supported the idea and the outcome is already impressive,” Gahamanyi said. Speaking to The New Times, Oria Kije Vande Weghe, one of the organisers, said the turn up was impressive but complained that the one day event did not provide enough opportunities for companies to interact with members of the Diaspora. According to Yvette Umutoni, the Human Resource Director at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the event was fruitful with many showing interest in returning to seek work. “We should have had this three or four year ago because it has really brought the Diaspora under one roof in terms of skills and opportunities for both potential employers and potential employees. We think next year it will be much better,” Umutoni said. Speaking to The New Times, the Rector of Kigali Institute of Technology (KIST) Dr. Jean de Arc Mujawamariya said that the institution was seeking Rwandans living abroad to take up teaching positions at the university. “We wanted to showcase the available opportunities at KIST; we have many opportunities available to cover the shortages we face especially lecturers in the Engineering and Architecture departments,” “We think there are many Rwandans out there who have this expertise and they can come home and practice their trade here. This should not look at this in terms of salaries but rather the role they can play in nation building,” she said. edmund.kagire@newtimes.co.rw

National

Members of the Diaspora urged to return