Don Bosco Muhazi TVET School Launches 3rd Training for Vulnerable Single Mothers and Boys with Special Needs

Our Reporter

The Gender Matters for Green TVET project at Don Bosco Muhazi TVET school has initiated its 3rd training program aimed at empowering vulnerable single mothers and boys with special needs. The training focuses on enhancing their knowledge and skills in agriculture, livestock, entrepreneurship, and reproductive health.

Starting on July 20, 2024, the class comprises 25 single mothers and three boys, one of whom has a physical disability. They attend classes four days a week and are provided with lunch. The beneficiaries mainly come from Gasabo and Gicumbi Districts.

Given the dry season, the training initially focuses on theory, with plans to transition to practical sessions once the rainy season begins. The phase is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.

Ms. Aurore Niyitanga, the Gender Officer at Don Bosco Muhazi, highlights the importance of the training in combating isolation among the beneficiaries. She emphasizes that the program not only equips them with knowledge in agriculture and animal husbandry but also offers support for starting new life.

Following the completion of the training, savings and loan groups will be formed to assist the beneficiaries in establishing their own businesses. Additionally, plans are underway to open accounts in SACCO to further support themselves through entrepreneurial endeavors.

Regular monitoring sessions are conducted to assess the progress of the beneficiaries and provide tailored training based on their needs. Feedback from participants indicates a renewed sense of purpose and determination to improve their circumstances.

This is made possible with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt. This is part of the broader Gender Matters for Green TVET programme; a four-year initiative (2023-2026) implemented in five Don Bosco TVET Centres across Uganda (Bombo, Palabek and Kamuli) and Rwanda (Gatenga and Muhazi).