Breaking Gender Stereotypes: Local leaders Joins campaign to Promote Girls’ Enrollment in Technical Trades at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS

The local authorities in Gatenga sector, Kicukiro District, have teamed up with the Gender Matters for Green TVET project to sensitize girls to enroll in technical Trades at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS. 

During a campaign event held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the local Administration in the Gatenga sector emphasized to the youth the importance of studying TVET courses as a way to prepare for a brighter future. They stressed that acquiring TVET skill should not be seen as a means to risk job security, but rather as a way to enhance career prospects and ensure long-term success.

The campaign to promote girls’ enrollment in technical courses was organized by Don Bosco Gatenga TSS in partnership with the Gender Matters for Green TVET Project and local authorities.

In addition to delivering the message to the youth gathered at the Don Bosco Gatenga TSS playground, mobile awareness campaigns were conducted in various parts of Gatenga Sector. The campaigns involved urging parents to motivate their daughters to register for the upcoming academic year 2024/2025.

Speaking to the media, Ms. Clementine Uzamureba, Gender Officer at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS, emphasized the importance of the campaign aimed at increasing the number of girls studying Technical courses.

She explained that the Gender Matters for Green TVET Project at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS is focused on encouraging girls to explore fields such as electricity and plumbing, which are traditionally dominated by boys, in order to break gender stereotypes.

Ms. Sylvie, the 2024 sole female graduate from the Electricity Trade, shared her experience of overcoming fear and stereotypes in pursuing a technical career.

 She acknowledged the challenges of studying technical subjects but urged other girls to be courageous and consider these professions as they offer quick job opportunities and higher earning potential.

As part of the project activities, Ms. Sylvia received toolkits to support her work in Electricity. Additionally, a boy was also recognized for his outstanding performance in the state exam for TVET courses in the year 2024.

Mr. Jean Bosco Basigayabo, Gatenga Sector Education Officer (SEO), expressed his gratitude to Don Bosco Gatenga TSS for their ongoing efforts in promoting Gender equality in education. He also mentioned that the institution was recently recognized in Kigali as a leading school for promoting Gender equality.

Present were also the National Women Council President in Gatenga Sector and in charge of Youth Health matters at Gatenga Health Centre.

Since the introduction of Gender Matters for Green TVET at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS, the number of female pursuing careers in Technical courses has increased to 98 female students from only 9 female students before the Project.

The Four-year target for the Gender Matters for Green TVET project is that at least 30% of all students at Don Bosco Gatenga TSS are girls. This is the Second year of the Project implementation in this School.

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