Recently, I was having a discussion with parents about their children’s school performance, and one parent highlighted something I found fascinating. He said, "We send our children to school so that they acquire knowledge and skills, but what makes us happy is not the theory they pump into the learners’ minds, but rather the rich practical skills that greatly boost their creativity and innovation. It is these skills that turn them into extra-ordinary individuals that contribute to the development of their communities.”

The words got my mind racing and I found myself thinking about Efotec Secondary School in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District. 

This particular school has taken grooming learners with practical skills to an enviable level. The extra-curricular programmes there are so enriching that they will make any progressive parent want their child to study there.

For instance, their vegetable growing scheme which was initiated by students does not only provide students a balanced diet, but also saves the school a lot resources they would have spent on buying such supplies. Besides, the project equips students with farming skills and knowledge.

Other than farming, Efotec students  are also given skills in designing, modelling, singing and dancing, among others.

According to the head teacher, Monic Tumukunde, it is these programmes that make her school stand out.

"We give our students a platform and guide them on how to embrace their talents and inner abilities in additional to academics. And this,  in turn, builds in them a sense of responsibility, which, in turn, boosts their creativity and innovation,” she says.

Thanks to the school’s support and conducive environment, four A’Level students, namely; Sabrina Iradukunda, Daria Mutoni, Sandrine Irakoze and Safi Muremba, joined hands and formed the ‘Creativity Club’. Club members mainly engage in designing fashionable pieces.

Daria Mutoni, the club’s leader, believes that Creativity Club came at a time when students were yearning for it and does not doubt it will inspire, motivate, enlighten, and boost talents and also open doors for many students to thrive.

"We joined our efforts because we believe teamwork makes dreams come true. Besides, a club gives a chance to students with different skills a platform where they can be mentored to discover their inner potential and excel,” she says.

With their motto, "Yes we can design our world”, students have gone as far as designing garments and artefacts, for instance, shirts, watches, shoes, necklaces and hand bags, among others.

Iradukunda, one of the club’s founder members, attributes their present achievements to the power of creative thinking and being innovative.

"Inspired by our role models and aspiring fashion experts in the fashion industry, we have come up with a unique way of designing different things creatively. This not only makes our products appealing to people’s eyes, but leaves them wondering what we hope to do in the future when we get the resources that we need; I guess elegance is the word,” she explains. 

Innovatively, students combine African patterns and textures with western accessories to produce colourful classy and elegant materials, which are worth exploring. And it’s this degree of creativity that has attracted over 100 students to join Creativity Club so as to tap into the valuable skills and knowledge the club offers.

Safi Muremba, one of the students who specialises in drawing the designs, says their major aim it to be self-reliant and help their fellow students with whom they share the passion for fashion.

"We are aware of how overwhelming the journey of seeking jobs after school is. We decided to use our talents and knowledge to embrace the journey towards self-reliance while at school so that by the time we leave school, we are able to create our own jobs,” Muremba explains.

Some of the students, who have seen their colleagues in Creativity Club rise and shine, stand to testify how the club has helped them to change their attitude towards extra-curricular activities. 

”Creativity Club has inspired us to make the most of our free time at school. We have embraced extra-curricular activities, and we have seen valuable rewards out of engaging in such productive activities,” says Jackline Uwineza.

As testified by both club members and their patron, Anaclet Karamuka, the school has been at the forefront in supporting the club to achieve its noble goals.

"Looking at the students’ priceless creativity and innovation, the school was delighted to prop up their initiative with both moral and financial support. This way, they can access different materials needed to create products up to the level of their innovation,” he explains. 

Service beyond self

Creativity Club members also embrace charity. And one way through which they give back to the community is by paying school fees and providing other essential scholastic materials to needy students in their school.

The club raises money essentially through selling their products to parents on visitation days.

”Our parents take pleasure in buying our products since they know it is one way to bless the work of their children’s hands. Our creativity and innovation thrills them,” says Iradukunda.

Besides financial support, the school administration invites several fashion experts to train and inspire those passionate students.