Once in Kigali, Vestine Tuyisenge was introduced to an entrepreneurship training of five days, especially in sales, marketing and basic financial management organized by TVET-BiWe Partnership Project to strengthen the a well-being for vulnerable young people .
She is one of the 63 trainees including 35 girls and 28 boys who have pursued their studies in welding and tailoring with the support of the TVET-BiWe Partnership Project.
"I joined the entrepreneurship training after completing my studies in welding, also sponsored by the TVET-BiWe Partnership Project. I have got a lot of knowledge regarding working in cooperatives as well as strengthening the savings system as the best approach of being financially stable.”
Zachalien Nsengimana emphasized that the training was a time of rethinking on their projects. “I appreciated the support of the TVET-BiWe Partnership Project. For the first, they supported us in a short courses for six months in welding and tailoring later on they trained us in entrepreneurship which was good time for those who have their projects. I developed a small project after the training. I have submitted my project to BDF at the District level.”
Dr. Mukulira Olivier, Managing Director of Rwanda Institute of Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance (RICEM), appreciated the initiative of the TVET-BiWe Partnership Project of strengthening young people to make them being financially independent.
“This is a good approach to eradicating poverty in our country. In order to support our youth RICEM will provide extra training on cooperative law. The Ministry of Education should consider including entrepreneurship and basic business management skills at the lower levels of education - primary and secondary schools. ” He added.
The TVET-BiWe Partnership Project Officer Olivier Maniragaba said that the approach of the project is to conduct training at school for the theoretical part accompanied with a basic practice and then attach trainees in companies for full practice to prepare them for work.
“Initially, training is offered to the trainees for six months at the school, then for the two months internship in companies and trainees and the project will award start up toolkits in groups upon their graduation”, explained Olivier.
The TVET-BiWe Partnership Project is implemented since November 2017 with the funds of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through sequa gGmbH and under the management of BildungsWerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft e.V (BiWe).