During the virtual job fair and business ideation seminar for youth employment and business creation held on June 30, 2021, four (4) garment big companies in Kigali committed 380 jobs to youth who completed dual training. The seminar was jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, the Private Sector Federation and APEFE in the framework of the Workplace Learning Support Programme – IGIRA KU MURIMO.

The objective of the seminar was to increase employment or self-employment opportunities for dual training apprentices and graduates by linking them with potential employers and financial institutions that may finance their business projects.

A virtual seminar brought together 468 people

Through digital conference facilities previously provided by IGIRA KU MURIMO programme to Imanzi Business Institute (IBI) of the PSF to facilitate the capacity building of companies through training, 468 participants were virtually hosted including representatives from government institutions involved in workplace learning and youth entrepreneurship development, the staff of chambers and professional associations under the Private Sector Federation, school managers and company managers, as well as apprentices and graduates who completed dual training in food processing, hairdressing, tailoring and leather work from 11 TVET schools. Apprentices and graduates connected to the event through the smart phones that they initially benefited from the programme to ease their online learning.

Different speakers in the seminar including officials from Business Development Fund (BDF), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR) and Employment Service Center appreciated this initiative and expressed their willingness to collaborate with the programme to support dual training graduates through existing initiatives to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.

“In a deliberate effort to increase financial access to marginalized women and youth, BDF and partners have initiated a Women and Youth Grant (WY Grant) facility that aims to reduce the burden of high interest rates on women and youth entrepreneurs. A grant equivalent to 15% of the total loan amount to start the investment activity is made accessible to women and youth borrowers upon good performance. I would like to interest IGIRA KU MURIMO graduates to benefit from this grant,” said Carine S. MUGWANEZA, Marketing and Relationship Manager at BDF.

C&D Products and Pink Mango, Kigali Garment Center, New Kigali Designers and COTINYABU from Bugesera led companies and other potential employers to commit jobs to IGIRA KU MURIMO graduates.

Apprentices and graduates appreciate the effectiveness of dual training

The job fair and business ideation has been the opportunity for apprentices and graduates to express their competences to potential employers.

“After my secondary studies, I was not able to continue with the university due to lack of financial means. Moreover, I was desperate and had no hope for the future because of my physical disability. I was lucky to be admitted in dual training in food processing. The dual training is organized in the way that enable apprentices to effectively acquire employability skills in the respective trades that they undertake. We learn from TVET schools and get enough time to acquire practical skills in companies. I can make bread, cake, juice, wine and other products related to food processing. Apart from the competencies that I acquired from dual training, the training in entrepreneurship that I benefited from IGIRA KU MURIMO programme in collaboration with RICEM opened my eyes and was able to identify business opportunities. I started a small bakery. I am now able to rent a workplace at 350,000 Rwandan francs per month. I generate income and make savings that will help me to grow my business in the near future. I would advise my fellow graduates to put their business ideas in practice. I can also grant to potential employers that dual training graduates are really competent and productive,” said Daniel NIZEYIMANA, one of dual training graduands in food processing from BUMBOGO TVET school in Gasabo District.

Mr. Faustin MWAMBARI, the IGIRA KU MURIMO Programme Director and Head of Employment Ecosystem and Policy Strategy Department in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour expressed that this job fair initiative is the best practice to advance the government agenda to create 1,500,000 jobs by 2024 as per the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1). Mr. MWAMBARI added that the same event will be organized annually at ministerial level to link job seekers with potential employers.

The programme supported three cohorts of youth to undertake dual training in food processing, fashion and beauty in 11 TVET Schools and 120 companies. The programme counts 121 dual training graduates in the 1^st intake and 179 apprentices on board in the 3^rd intake. 164 apprentices in the 2^nd intake completed dual training in June 2021 and performed the integrated assessment before their certification. The Programme targets to have a minimum number of 375 graduates where at least 100 will be employed or self-employed.

The Workplace Learning Support Programme is funded by the Belgium Development Cooperation (DGD) through APEFE. It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Public Service and Labor (MIFOTRA) and the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in collaboration with different stakeholders including the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB).