In line with the Project on Skills Training and Job Obtainment Support for Social Participation of Ex-Combatants and Other People with Disabilities (ECOPD), the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) in Collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Council of persons with Disabilities (NCPD) are conducting the success story workshop to the Laureates of Vocational Training Centres to share with the existing trainees the opportunities, challenges and experiences that they met in terms of job obtainment. Those testimonies remove from existing trainees all kind of fear for being launched in business through cooperatives. It aimed to raise and build skills of trainees following vocational training to prepare their future career after graduation. The one day success story training session has been organized from 11th July to 19th July 2013 in 4 Vocational training centres that are VTC Nyanza, VTC Rwabuye, VTC Kibali, and VTC Amizero.
These workshops began on Thursday on 11th July 2013 by VTC Nyanza where 169 ex-trainees and 60 trainees of year 2013 gathered in DAYEMU Hotel to share the success stories.
Speaking at the occasion, the Representative of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities in this activity; Mr. MURERA Emmanuel said that it is a good occasion to build capacities of persons with disabilities through vocational trainings. He stressed that the completion of skills training by business workshop, cooperative management and success story from laureates of vocational training centres has as main objective to encourage trainees to become entrepreneurs. “This is a good channel of job obtainment and lead to the sustainable social economic development of persons with disabilities. As consequence, Persons with Disabilities strive themselves strive for their self-relianceâ€. Said Mr Emmanuel MURERA.
Four chosen cooperative representatives respectively NAKURE Claire of ABADAHEMUKIRANA Cooperative working in Gatagara area, SEBERA Hildegarde from ABAKUNDAMAHORO of Muhanga District, Amina SIYADJARI of Humura Busasamana in Nyanza District, Harerimana Vincent of TUZAMURANE cooperative working in Rubavu District shared experiences in doing business .They urged their fellows to work within cooperatives as they help to gather force, skills and means for a common issue. They also warned them about challenges they can face. Among others, they pointed insufficiency of enough skills in cooperative management, difficult to get cooperative legal documents, lack of experience and financial means, insufficient skills in Entrepreneurship and income generating activities.
The session ended by fulfilling a base line survey sheet targeting to see the impact and outcome of ECOPD program after graduation.
Note that this is the 7th group and yet 2 525 persons have benefited from such opportunity by getting knowledge in different vocational subjects such as tailoring, masonry, electricity, knitting, welding, carpentry, auto-mechanic, plumbing or cooking.
Reported by MURERA Emmanuel
Training and skills Development Officer/NCPD