In partnership with the MasterCard Foundation and the Canadian International Development Agency, DOT Rwanda has been enabled to scale its ReachUp! program with the recruitment of 59 trainers who will be deployed in their respective districts, 22 in total:

Bugesera, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Ngoma, Rwamagana and Kirehe in the Eastern Province. Gicumbi, Musanze and Gakenke in the Northern Province. Muhanga, Ruhango, Kamonyi, Nyamagabe, Muhanga and Huye in the Southern Province. Rubavu, Nyabihu, Karongi and Ngororero in the Western Province. Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge in Kigali City. 

The trainers are recruited under the DOT internship program which offers an exclusive opportunity to young graduates to enter the job market working with an organization committed to develop the job skills and abilities of youth. Selected from various education backgrounds and higher learning institutions, DOT interns are trained and equipped to return to their communities and build the capacities of peers through training and coaching in technology and entrepreneurial skills.

Friday, November 4^th 2011, marked the conclusion of the face to face TOT, over which all the 59 interns were brought together for intensive training held at the Kicukiro IPRC, in Kigali. The day celebrated interns showcases of what they have learnt and plan to deliver in their communities. The event was graced by the presence of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Mr. Edward Kalisa, the Director General of COOJAD, Mr. J. Louis K. Musoni, and a JICA One Village One Product representative, Mr Kenny Theophile Nkundwa.

At the occasion the guests toured the room which had DOT Interns showcasing and learnt more from the interns themselves what they are learning, and how they intend to make a difference in their communities.

In this photo: Intern Ingabire Josette showcases her learning and future projects

Following the showcase, in a small gathering two interns Cecile Mbashimishe and Joseph Masengesho spoke on behalf of their colleagues.

"We have been well prepared through the different activities done, and we are now able to transform the community using facilitation skills at the same time building our capacity as future leaders! We need to achieve the second pillar of the Vision 2020 which is Human Resource Development and a Knowledge Based Economy using ICT! Unlike other organisations that require applicants to have experience or plenty of waiting lists to which they never give feedback, DOT Rwanda recruits fresh graduates with less or no experience and provides constructive feedback not to mention the commitment consideration of gender balance which is so special, unique and a crosscutting area of Vision 2020. We wish in the near future to present the impact of our activities for the ReachUp! program and we are committed to excellence." proudly shared Cecile Mbashimishe.

The guest of honour, Mr Edward Kalisa, the Permanent Secretary of the Rwandan Ministry of Youth, adressed the interns encouraging them to take advantage of the DOT internship to build their competitiveness on the job market.

In this photo: PS of the Ministry of Youth, Mr. Edward Kalisa addresses the interns

"Although the Government is making efforts to provide opportunities to fresh graduates, but there are still many positions that one cannot assume without having prior exposure to some of the tasks and responsibility, and DOT is partly responding to this need by taking on this large a number of intern. The Government is not pushing for you to gain experience so that one day you become a good public servant or employee somewhere else but so that you can also become job creators. Especially given that the Government cannot employ each and every graduate, and our private sector is still very small. The job market is very competitive and you must demonstrate that you have the capacity to take up the task." 

DOT Rwanda's Country Director, Violette Uwamutara, appreciated the continued support DOT has received from the Rwandan Government, the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of ICT; the support of implementing partners namely the RDB Business Development Centres, WDA TVET Schools and Education Institutions across the country, and in particular the support of the Kicukiro IPRC who facilitated and hosted the training of trainers.

Below are more pictures of the showcase event and intern training: 

 

About the ReachUp! Program

The ReachUp! is DOT's economic program that trains and coaches communities in essential ICT, business, and life skills, providing participants with tools and capabilities to help them advance their economic status through building successful, sustainable livelihoods.

About DOT

Established in Canada in 2002, Digital Opportunity Trust is an innovator in enabling people to access and apply information and communications technologies (ICT) to create education, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities. DOT's vision is to make these opportunities available to marginalized people, especially women and youth, as a strategy to eradicate poverty, vulnerability and gender inequality.

DOT launched a Rwandan office under local management in March 2010 to run its Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development in Rwanda (E2DR) Project, in partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). With a new partnership with the MasterCard foundation DOT Rwanda will expand the ReachUp! program; in a period of 3 years, 180 interns will be deployed to impact 35,000 young people. Program impact to date: Over 2500 community beneficiaries (youth and women), and 112 interns.