Giving ex-combatants a new life

When Alex Muhirwe, 47, an ex-combatant become disabled during his service in the army, he thought he would never have a smile on his face again.“Just like any other person who was carrying out his daily activities and then life suddenly changes to the extent that you can no longer carry on some activities, there is a reason to worry especially when you have a family to take care of,” Muhirwe narrates.He goes on to say, “But people should never loose hope so long as they are still alive.”Muhirwe is one of the 54 ex-combatants who completed a six-month training course in electrical installation and electronics as well as tailoring, in Kicukiro as part of one of the courses organized by Rwanda Demobilization Reintegration Commission (RDRC).He explains that the skills he acquired in the training opens a new chapter in his life and that he will be able to start his own phone repair business.“For sure, I came here without any knowledge about electronics or phone repair, but according to the practical’s we have been undergoing, I am delighted to inform you I am now able to repair phones,” he says with a smile on his face.On completion of the training, trainees were given various tools to help them start income generating activities which included sewing machines and electronic equipment. The Chairman of RDRC, Jean Sayinzoga, urges them to use their skills to start businesses.“Although it’s important that you seek employment, it’s also wise for you to have business ideas to effectively start or create employment,” says Sayinzoga.During the function to mark the end of the training Sanyinzoga urged them to desist from the habit of selling tools given to them pointing out that in the past; such cases have been reported to his office. The training was conducted in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and AGHR (Association Generale des Handicapés du Rwanda), an association for people living with disabilities.The Legal representative of the association, Zacharie Nkundiye, called on employers to give the disabled chance to work and improve their standard of living.“Work is all about capacity to perform and if a disabled person has the knowledge or required skills, then there is no legal reason they can be restricted from taking up responsibility or employment,” Nkundiye said.He explained that the disabled are part of the community warning against discrimination against them.The president of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities Gaston Rusiha, promised that the council is committed to working with other development partners in making sure that lives of the disabled especially ex-combatants improve.In her speech, JICA representative, Maho Harada, said that her organization will continue offering support in terms of capacity building.“We are having a three years project and our mission is to make sure that at least 2000 ex-combatants are trained in various skills so that they can not only be integrated in their communities, but continue contributing to national development just like any other national,” said Harada.