March 29, 2024

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USAID and EDC Celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities with Local Rwandan Partners Addressing Inclusion and Rights for Youth with Disabilities

On November 29, 2021, the Honorable Claudette Irere, the Minister of State in charge of ICT and TVET in the Ministry of Education, U.S. Ambassador Peter H. Vrooman, and USAID Mission Director Jonathan Kamin visited the Masaka Resource Center for the Blind and Masaka Business Incubation Center, two Centers working closely working with the USAID-funded Umurimo Kuri Bose (UKB) (Kinyarwanda for “Employment for All”) project.

The visit was in commemoration of and in line with this year’s theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world. The visit was also attended by representatives from UKB project implementing partners, including Education Development Center (EDC) and local target Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).

The UKB Activity equips youth with employment skills and builds their resilience in workplace and community settings, while also working with employers to promote disability inclusion. Notably, the UKB Activity provides Rwandan youth with critical competencies and skills to fuel self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and resourcefulness. The technical support and training further provide technical know-how and practical experiential learning to navigate the world of work or launch into start-up ventures of their own. The activity also works closely with employers, training providers, and business incubators to provide youth with access to real workplace opportunities, including work-based learning.

To date, the project has trained over 700 youth, placed over 550 youth in work-based learning with 52 companies committed to supporting disability inclusion. The Activity is also supporting over 400 youth in savings groups to support future business ventures.

“It is impressive today to hear the positive impact that the UKB Activity has made to date and hear inspiring testimonies from the youth participants. These youth need to find their purpose and their equal and rightful place in our homes, our communities and our workplaces,” said the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda, Peter H. Vrooman.

“We are working to strengthen and reinforce both the supply and demand side of youth skills and business engagement. The successes of the UKB Activity would not be possible without the collaborative learning partnership with USAID and the Government of Rwanda,” said Tania Tzelnic, EDC’s UKB Project Director.

During the visit, the Masaka Resource Center of the Blind and Masaka Business Incubation Center highlighted the work they are doing to help youth learn competitive job skills, contribute positively to their communities, and to reinforce Rwanda’s vision for transformative economic growth.

As Gilbert Safari from the Masaka Business Incubation Center stated, “Employment is central to the ability of persons with disabilities to maintain a decent standard of living for themselves and for their families; it is an important factor influencing their opportunities to participate fully in society.”

Through support from USAID’s Umurimo Kuri Bose Project, the Masaka Business Incubation Center has trained youth with disabilities to design  and manufacture footwear and leather goods and enabled them to earn a stable monthly income.

About UKB Project

USAID-funded Umurimo Kuri Bose Activity objectives are to foster a more inclusive workforce development system by: 1) Increasing youth employability skills, empowerment, engagement, and equity; and 2) Promoting an inclusive and enabling environment for youth with disabilities to access and succeed in employment.  UKB Activity serves 1,560 youth, including 80 percent of youth with disabilities, in 12 districts of Rwanda.

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