KIST, Unity Club offer IT skills to orphans

The Regional ICT Training Centre (RITC) at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology recently passed out 60 orphans after undergoing ten-day training in basic ICT skills. The group is part of the 387 children selected countrywide for the training that was co-organised by Unity Club. These children were selected from all orphanages around the country as well as from child-headed families.  

Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sports and Culture Minister Joseph Habineza hands a certificate to one of the children upon completion of their course on Thursday (Courtsey Photo)

The Regional ICT Training Centre (RITC) at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology recently passed out 60 orphans after undergoing ten-day training in basic ICT skills.

The group is part of the 387 children selected countrywide for the training that was co-organised by Unity Club.

These children were selected from all orphanages around the country as well as from child-headed families.

The training, conducted by trainers from the RITC at eight different centres countrywide, covered four IT courses and was attended by two groups of students, advanced and basic level.

Officiating at the graduation ceremony held on Thursday at KIST campus, Gender and Family Promotion Minister Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya, who represented the Prime Minister, hailed the children for the hard work and pledged continued support.

Unity Club is a non-profit organisation that brings together serving and former senior government officials.

Minister of Culture and Sports, Joseph Habineza, encouraged the youth to respect culture as a driving factor for development.

"All developed countries have principles upon which to base their development agenda. None of them has better leaders than ours,” he said, and sighted an example of Switzerland that is very developed yet lacks many natural resources and no standing army.

Habineza also challenged the youth to respect time, work and positive cultural aspects in order to contribute to the country’s development.

The KIST Vice Rector in charge of finance and administration, Emmanuel Gatabazi, said the group of finalists is an addition to a long list of graduates that the institution has produced for several years.

"We’re proud to have you as our finalists.”
One of the finalists, Ami Nshuti said such training would enable children to develop a liking for science and technology.

"I thank the First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Chairperson of Unity Club, RITC and all organizers for this

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