Iwawa graduation set for next week

KIGALI - Students from Iwawa Rehabilitation and Vocation Skills Development Centre (IRVSDC) will graduate on May 13. This will be the first batch, of the mainly former street children, to complete their studies and rehabilitation session. This was announced by Nicolas Niyongabo, the coordinator of the centre, while speaking at the consultative meeting on the preparation of a graduation ceremony, as well as proper reintegration of graduates in their respective communities after graduation. The meeting, that attracted parents of the Iwawa students, deputy mayors of various districts, was officially opened by Edward Kalisa, the permanent secretary in the ministry of youth. “I can confirm that the graduation of your children is scheduled next week on 13th and 752 will be graduating.” Niyongabo told the parents, yesterday. He highlighted that students were trained in various courses including bee-keeping, carpentry, commercial farming, masonry, tailoring as well as languages especially English and Swahili. Kalisa, in an interview, said that the meeting had resolved to create committees, at district level, that will monitor the graduates after they leave Iwawa. “Its government’s obligation to ensure that these children are reintegrated in their communities. Government invested in these children and we shall not fail to reintegrate them. That’s why we have decided to create the committees,” he said. Kalisa added that the government would strive to ensure all the graduates find employment. During the meeting, one of the students, Emmanuel Musabyimana, testified about how he is now a changed person. “Every parent should commend government for establishing this centre. I used to take drugs and roam aimlessly on the streets of Kigali but now I am a professional tailor and I can communicate in English and Swahili,” he said Speaking to The New Times, Imelda Nyirantuyahimana, a resident of Igicaca in Gasabo District, said she was happy to hear the good news that her husband had passed exams and was going to graduate. “I recently spoke to my husband him on phone and promised me that he was studying hard and that he had passed the exams. “I am therefore happy that he is going to graduate and get a job,” Nyirantuyahimana said. The president of the Iwawa parents’ body, Charles Kabanda, noted that government would provide transport facilities to parents, who would like to attend the graduation ceremony and urged them to register. Ends

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Iwawa graduation set for next week