On February 25, SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda and DHL Express Rwanda officially launched their collaboration to jointly implement the GOTEACH programme that aim at addressing youth employability problems in Rwanda. The programme was kick-started by signing an initial five-year partnership. DHL is a corporate company and leading global brand in the logistics industry operating in more than 200 countries including Rwanda. Apart from its logistics portfolio, DHL Express Rwanda has four pillars of corporate citizenship strategy; The pillars include GOTEACH programme on employability and entrepreneurship training, which was initiated in 2010 to empower youth to increase job readiness and creation of decent jobs for young people. The second pillar is GOGREEN which is an environmental programme initiated in 2003 to protect the environment against drought and reduce carbon dioxide gas emission into air. The other is GOHELP pillar, a humanitarian programme initiated in 2006 which saves lives of people facing natural calamities. Lastly, there is GOTRADE pillar, a new programme initiated in 2020 to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve marketing of their product through e-commerce SOS Childrens Villages is an international non-profit organisation with mission to care for children and youth who have lost or who are at risk of losing parental care in more than 130 countries Worldwide. The organisation was established in the country in 1979 and currently, SOS Rwanda has four villages operating in four districts of Gasabo, Gicumbi, Kayonza and Nyamagabe. SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda runs two major programmes that include alternative care which is providing care to abandoned children and vulnerable young people to unlock their potentials as well as family strengthening programme that is empowering caregivers to be able to provide for needs of their children. SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda and DHL Express Rwanda have been collaborating for years but with no formal relationship. According to officials, the five-year partnership by the two entities to implement GOTEACH programme in Rwanda will open the door to many youths to have access mentorship, career guidance and career development skills to boost job readiness and their chances to get decent jobs. Globally, GOTEACH programme has a target to create 214,000 decent jobs every year. “Through GOTEACH programme, we will enable and engage in providing youths living in SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda and other vulnerables in communities with professional employability and social entrepreneurship training,” said Julie Mutoni, the Country Manager of DHL Express Rwanda. She added: “DHL Express Rwanda through its Corporate Social Responsibility has committed to empower young people with the skills they need to achieve an independent and sustainable life where they have decent jobs or are able to tap into decent job opportunities and entrepreneurship.” Mutoni also highlighted that the lack of decent work and employment is a great challenge faced by many young people and called upon other corporate entities to join in supporting SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda in reaching out to children who lost or at risk of losing parental care and vulnerable youth. “Young people need hands-on experience. GOTECH Program will offer internship opportunities to mentor and inspire young people. This program will support SOS Childrens Villages youth to make them ready for the job market because when they graduate from schools they always need orientation. DHL and SOS Childrens Villages Rwanda together can contribute to reduce unemployment that affects our young people,” she noted said. Eghosa Erhumwunse, the Interim National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda, said that the launch of the programme is a great pride for his organisation to empower young people to utilize their full potential and tap into opportunities for employment and economic transformation. “With our partner DHL Express Rwanda through GOTECH programme, young people will access training, mentorship and work experience to develop core skills required as they enter into the working world. Together, our aim is to build a better tomorrow, where no one is left behind,” Eghosa said. Globally, DHL has established a partnership with SOS Childrens Villages International since more than 15years ago. Every year, the DHL and SOS Childrens Villages International partnership has a target to create 214,000 decent jobs, establish dialogues with approximately 4,000 young people and create more than 1,300 employees through GOTEACH Programme.
