Rwanda – Meet Uwiringiyimana Grace, young girl studying welding at Don Bosco Rango TVET

04 February 2020

(ANS – Rango) – Uwiringiyimana Grace is a young girl who has decided to do away with the cultural beliefs that ladies can’t pursue technical studies, especially welding courses formerly attributed to men only. After realizing that the welding sector could provide her a better living, Grace decided to enrol at Don Bosco Rango TVET School.

She said that the welding trade is the career of her choice because she loves it. Apart from that, she was inspired by those already practicing the welding job.

“I have been inspired by welders when I saw how they make doors. That's when I decided to join this career,” she said.

Uwiringiyimana is in level three in the welding trade. The young girl is optimistic that at the end of her studies, she will be able to land her dream job or create her own welding workshop.

“I hope that after my studies, as soon as financial means are available, I'll be able to set up my own workshop where I can practice my profession,” she explains.

Uwiringiyimana encourages other young girls to join Technical and Vocational formation and trades, adding that young girls should not underestimate TVET studies: they are the same as other courses.

“There are some who try to discourage me, asking if I am not ashamed as I am the only girl in a group of many boys,” she says. “I say no, I am here to study and not to have any other affairs with boys. This is a profession for all of us. You can't tell which one is for men and which one is for women,” she adds.

Don Bosco Rango TVET School is located in the Huye District of the Southern Province of Rwanda. The School is owned and managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco. The centre of Rango was initially established to accommodate young Salesians preparing to become priests, living there and attending classes in Nyakibanda. Now it serves as the site for Technical and Vocational Education for young people, a large number of them coming from poor families.

Fr Turabanye Jean Pierre Turabanye, the school's director, says that this year, 2020, the school has had a larger number of students’ registration compared to the 65 students of last year. “We have more than 100 students already registered to start the Classes. We have students who come from all around and they are enrolled in six vocational training courses, notably, Construction, Carpentry, Hospitality, Sewing, Hairdressing and Welding… And the Hairdressing section was recently added to educate how to take care of hair, skin, nails…”

Moreover, students are offered lunch at no cost, thanks to the help of donors, and Don Bosco Rango TVET School provides other forms of support, which include facilities for sports, student field visits, etc.

“As for staff, there are ten teachers, the Deputy in Charge of Studies, the Deputy in Charge of Discipline who is assisted by two German volunteers, so the centre has sufficient staff to be able to supervise young students,” Fr Turabanye said.

This year the “Don Bosco Tech Africa” organization, which started six years ago, is committed to helping improve the quality of vocational training in Africa and this year Don Bosco Rango TVET school has been selected among the centres in Africa which will benefit from aid for modernization through technical training.

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