Rwanda Nook Hub showcases various youth talents from self-learning

By Elias Hakizimana

A couple of years ago, Ananias Tuyisenge was doubting about his future and with mixed self-questions as a physically-disabled person he could give himself a response that ‘disability is inability!’ which is totally negative.

In July 2020, Tuyisenge was informed that there is a centre near his neighborhood in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District that helps youth to explore their talents and shape their future development through Art development and job creation, so, he joined and got support.

“Since I arrived here in Rwanda Nook Hub, I learned a lot of things including English language and to speak in the public and I am now here doing it, thanks to the centre to enable me explore and exercise my talents, I have learnt how to play piano and guitar and I have produced many songs which, some are on YouTube Channel.” Tuyisenge says.

“I used to beg on various streets of Kigali but I stopped it since I started proving my talents at Rwanda Nook Hub, I am now thinking on my future development after the center has transformed my life.” he adds.

The centre conducted its 2nd exhibition week that runs from May 24, 2021 until May 30th, 2021 starting from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM and gathered only few people to comply with Covid-19 Prevention Measures.

Different youth including Tuyisenge showcased the products born out of their talents like Music, handcraft products including made in Rwanda shoes, bags, women and men fashions, face masks and hand sanitizers among others.

Deborah Uwingabire, another beneficiary who designed a project of Fashion Design and Tailoring of women clothes said that the last products are their own efforts and from their shared knowledge as young girls.

“We produce them here at Rwanda Nook Hub without any other teacher, we use internet by using the centre’s computers and manage to learn through, these are few styles we have made and we can produce more when we get enough equipment including the machines that can perform at the outstanding level.” She said.

Drawing Talent

Emmanuel Mugisha,17, Eric Niyonshuti, 23, Placide Niyonshuti, 17, Thierry Ndahiriwe, 14, Thierry Niyogisubizo, 14, have all chosen Art-painting and table drawing at Rwanda Nook Hub center. Most of these children are still studying in primary and secondary schools but they found better to explore their talents at the center which is neighboring to their residence.

“I am passionate with drawing since my primary school age when I was in P3, I joined the center two years ago now, I am still learning and teach my younger brothers here. We can now draw various images of figures and people. Drawing is not easy as it requires time and investments. One drawing can take me 3 to 7 days to be complete. For income, we can sell one drawing at between Rwf 80,000 to Rwf300,000 basing on kind of clients, whether locals or foreigners,” Eric Niyonshuti said.

“I plan to build an art gallery to exhibit my products and sell them, I can even encourage my colleagues to work together for a common development.” He added.

Tailoring, fashion and design

Sallah Tuyishime, 18, Benefice Igihozo Izere, 14 and Hassina Mukandayisenga, 17 have all learned tailoring and they can produce carpets of various shapes. Two of these children dropped out of school in p6, and one in p5.

“We use old textiles and other raw materials to produce carpets, I have only three weeks here but I can produce a carpet, thanks to the center for this support.” I gihozo said.

Welding

Amos Mugisha, 19, Evode Iradukunda, 17, Leandre Mugarura, 18 makes a team one of children who learned welding at Rwanda Nook Hub. They have learned from internet and managed to produce products including doors and windows in metals.

“I thank Rwanda Nook Hub because I know to use a computer and internet to explore talents, I did not have any skills in this regard at the beginning. Welding is a good profession I believe will transform my life.” Said Leandre Mugarura.

Female welders

Marie josiane Ugiruwabo, 18 and Fabiola Ingabire 18 make the team two of welders at the center. They all dropped in p6 and senior one respectively. The young girls produced good welded metal gates, doors and windows while at Rwanda Nook Hub.

“My parents divorced and failed to pay me school fees, I dropped out in senior one of secondary schools, in my childhood, I wanted to become a lawyer or prosecutor but my passion today turned in welding and I like it I want to do it as a business after leaving this center.” She said.

“Girls need to stand up and work, parents should also know that a child can perform any kind of vocational education, either boy or girl. My mother used to tell me that welding is for boys but I felt it as my passion.” She added.

There is also team three of young boys in welding talent. As they exhibit their products, Shaddad Uwineza, 18, Gervains Imanigenerigihe, 16 and Benjamin 18, said that they are ready to make this passion successful in their future life when they get seed capital.

Pianists and Guitarists

Samuel Nsabimana, 25 is a pianist and singer. He left primary school in 2012 and joined Rwanda Nook Hub in 2019.

“When I came here I knew basic skills to play piano and I learnt a lot here on internet, I have 7 songs including some that warn youth on delinquency and negative impacts of drug abuse as well as early pregnancies.” He said.

Poets at Nook Hub

Olivier Benimana, 28 is traditional poet and singer. He was inspired by the culture of grandparents since he was a child. “ I was raised by my grandmother who is my role model, since I reached at Rwanda Nook Hub, I can prepare good poems for wedding and other social parties. I have almost a year here and I learned a lot including computer and Internet skills. In Music, I used to sing in many voices without knowing mine but I have discovered mine.” He said.

Carpentry

The center also trained children to produce wooden planters, which trainees believe will help them to change lives.

Liquid soaps and hand sanitizers

Saphina Iraguha, 23, and Bonette Izimpavu, 20, have learnt to produce hygienic materials such as liquid soaps and hand sanitizers at Rwanda Nook Hub.

“I finished secondary schools in s6 of Accountancy in 2018. I and my colleague learned to produce liquid soaps and hand sanitizers after navigating through other talents including bakery and photography. I was pushed by COVID-19 pandemic and joined the center to explore further. I plan to join the Business Development Fund (BDF) to request sponsorship (loan) and do this as a business.” She said.

Agriculture

Diane Mbonyinshuti, 18, is still a student in senior 3 at G.S.Gahanga in Kicukiro District. She said: “I chose Agriculture and learn how to produce organic crops as I don’t like food from factories. The center helped me to learn a lot but I am still looking for more skills like improved irrigation technologies,” she said.

Shoe making

The center also trains children and youth in shoe making to promote made in Rwanda products.

Decoration

Carine Uwizeye Batite, Assistant Manager and Student of Rwanda Nook Hub, she has a specialty to learn many talents to be able to help other children coming to the center. So far, she produced jewels, and decorates beautiful tabs mates using recycled materials.

She said that the center gives extra knowledge to the young boys and girls about sexual and reproductive health, social relations and behaviors, problem solving and hygiene and sanitation among others.

Norman Manzi, the Founder of Dream Village and Rwanda Nook Hub said that 80 learners have been working on 30 different Projects in teams for the past 3 months despite the challenges faced because of the pandemic,

“Our learners are very excited to share with the members of the public their projects and in return get feedback and guidance from an experienced and versatile member of the industry. This interaction will help our learners to talk about their projects, improve their skills, take constructive criticism and learn about business professionalism/ etiquette.” Manzi notes.

“We also look forward to the public support in purchasing or funding the learners’ projects, which will help them advance to the next stage in achieving their goals. As a precautionary measure, all safety protocols will be followed.” he adds.

Nook Hub Alumni testimonies

Angelique Niyirera, 19 is a young girl from Nyarurama cell, Gatenga Sector in Kicukiro District. Since January 2020, she a student of Rwanda Nook Hub after dropping out of school in Senior three (S3).

“After my father passed away, I remained with my mother whose financial capacity was insufficient to cater for my school fees, I was informed of this center and came to learn Hair dressing. The package of skills I took from here helped me to work and earn money. No school fees paid here, everything is free. I encourage other children who can drop out of school to look for further opportunities as they are around us.” Niyirera said.

Parents of beneficiaries speak out

Gaudence Kankwanzi, 63, the mother of one young girl who learn how to produce men shirts appreciates the role of Rwanda Nook Hub Centre to equip young people with hands-on skills.

“My daughter finished ordinary level of secondary schools and I could not help her join other advanced classes, I supported het rider to join this center and she is now a tailor, I plan to do whatever to help her get a tailoring machine.” she says.

Olive Nyirashirubute, another parent said: “I always value children’s talents, my daughter came here to learn and she chose welding; she can now produce various construction materials including metallic doors and windows, I am sure that this will help her to transform life.” She said.

“I thank this center to take responsibilities and design this project that equip our children with needed skills that help them to prepare their good future, they will be able to help themselves and their families,” said Jacques Ntawugayimana, another parent.

One of the parents of these children speaking during the Exhibition of talents
“After my primary school education, I learned tailoring and my parents bought me a sewing machine this gave me an opportunity to get a husband and I can now buy clothes, soaps and skin butter without always depending on my husband. Please use this opportunity to create innovations, do it with your full heart and efforts. ” said Providence Mukarutebuka, the parent.

Officials’ take

Emmanuel Rutubuka, Executive Secretary of Gahanga Sector commends the efforts of the centre to help these children who, among them many were coming from the streets and now enjoying a new life.

“This centre help us to keep young people busy and trains them to create jobs, we wish it to expand activities and support more youths, I encourage those who have proven their talents to make them of a good use and for good results, they can even call others to leave the streets and teach them to work and be self-reliant.” Rutubuka said.

About Rwanda Nook Hub

Rwanda Nook Hub is a youth friendly self-learning and skill development center that was inaugurated on August 15, 2019 at Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District to help youth, women and children beyond 16 years to learn different talents through peer education.

The center was launched by Dream Village in partnership with Project Defy where technical knowledge leads the skills and beneficiaries with various talents.

The center is equipped with various facilities including internet-connected laptop computers, technical tools to help in construction, carpentry, painting, and tailoring, organic garden to help them implement agricultural skills and help the community fight malnutrition, planting fruits and herbal medicines among others.

The space is providing a conducive environment for individuals to foster curiosity, innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking. As a way to interact and promote self-learning, learners embark on projects where they set goals and make tangible projects to be showcased at the end of the goal cycle.

elias.theinspirer@gmail.com