Kicukiro: 35 former school dropped outs children graduate from Rwanda Nook Hub

By Elias Hakizimana.

At least 35 children who dropped out from schools in recent years have graduated from Rwanda Nook Hub (RNH)in Gahanga sector, Kicukiro District, aspiring to be entrepreneurs in diverse sectors such as art, technical and vocational labour force.

The finalists benefited from the center’s self-learning initiative and acquired skills in Welding, Painting, Culinary Arts, Carpentry, Music Arts, Urban Agriculture, Drawing, fashion and design as well asTailoring among others.

Speaking to the Inspirer on July 29, 2022 during the center’s third exhibition, Evode Iradukunda. 17, who has learnt carpentry is graduating from the second cycle as he did Agriculture during the previous cycle.

Fashion and Design are among the skills offered at RNH

“I have achieved a lot of things while at this hub, through internet research now I can make good tables from timbers with metals.” He said.

Amos Mugisha has produced a modern roasting facility within three months after his research on the internet. “I watched a movie on YouTube that demonstrates how everything is done then I came up with this material.” He said.

Sylvia, Program Director at Dream Village organization that established Rwanda Nook Hub three years ago explains that the self-learning center continues to support children from Kicukiro District.

“This is Rwanda Nook Hub, it is a self-learning center where the learners come and go on the laptops, use internet and teach themselves, there is no teacher, no curriculum, no exams and no certificates. We believe that children who come here have a dream in their minds, what they need is just to explore what they have in their heads, and they follow a lesson of their choice here at RNH.” Sylvie said.

She explains that the center gives them the tools to produce diverse products after they have mastered the courses of their choices on the internet through internet searching. The final products are the properties of the center that provides sustainable revenue for the centre and the learners who made them.

 

No school fees, no age discrimination

The center welcomes children regardless of the age group and most of the beneficiaries dropped out of schools mainly in primary schools.

Sylvia says that they chose to initiate the center in Kicukiro district as they found that the area has many school dropouts.

“There is no age group and it is the reason why we brought this center here because we know there are many children who dropped out of schools, there are many others who are scattered on the roads and without something to eat, others do not have financial capacity to go to school, and there are other children who come here to learn after school, so, we do not have a certain age group or and any group of people, we welcome young person who want to come and learn.”

The center’s activities complement the Government of Rwanda’s initiative to help youth create jobs according to Sylvie.

“Though there are other people who come here to learn, the priority is youth and we believe this initiative will help to reduce unemployment in the country.”

Expansion plan

Sylvie explains that besides the Nook Hub in Kicukiro, Dream Village plans to have 10 Nook Hubs to operate from other areas of the country in order to help more youth to gain vocational and self-training skills.

Carine Uwizeye Bakhita, Manager of Rwanda Nook Hub says that the current 45 finalists make a third cycle since the center was established in August 2019.

The learners work on important projects that are promising at the artisanal market for income generation.

The first cycle that started with 120 children ended with 75 finalists as they did not have a common mindset towards the benefits of the initiative. The second cycle was challenged by Covid-19 pandemic. The second cycle ended with quite the same number of finalists (79) from a little number of those who were registered.

“With the third cycle, we decided to choose few and give them enough time and materials to learn a lot and to ensure their management. We registered 45 children, 40 came and learnt, five of them dropped out and we have now 35 finalists.” Uwizeye explains.

Uwizeye says that they still have challenges that include shortage of enough laptops as presently the young people have to share them and without reliable and affordable internet wireless connection.

The officials from Kicukiro district who participated at the third graduation cycle pledged to support the center with a good internet connection.

“We are happy to get internet support as it is a pre-requisite for us to access the lessons. The district pledged to do advocacy on our behalf for various challenges we face in our daily activities,” Uwizeye says.

The dreams

“Our dreams are to expand the center and help many youth as we aspire to see youth creating jobs rather than seeking for jobs.” Uwizeye noted.

Officials support

Singer Ananias has benefited from the skills from the Rwanda Nook Hub.

Justin Tuyishime, Youth Representative in Gahanga sector and Vice-chairperson in charge of youth empowerment in Kicukiro district said that they will link the center with partners to be able to expand their workshop.

Etienne Twiringiyimana, an official from Gahanga sector in charge of Good Governance said that they will continue to conduct advocacy campaigns for this center to enable learners easily reach their potentials.

“We requested the center to give us their action plan for us to know what they need most.” He said.

Twiringiyimana said that such youth centers help in transforming education and good growth of children as they contribute towards reduction of juvenile delinquency such as drug abuse and unwanted pregnancies.

Gahanga sector has the population of over 48,000 of whom the majority are youth. 

Esther Muhawenimana has learnt how to make cakes.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com