Salesians in Rwanda Enrolling Girls in “technical professions” to Break Gender Barriers

Kigali, 21 October, 2023 / 8:50 PM

Members of the Institute of Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in Rwanda are enrolling girls in “technical professions” in an effort to break gender barriers in the landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa.

In a Wednesday, October 18 report, Salesians officials highlight the initiative being realized at Don Bosco Gatenga in Rwanda’s Archdiocese of Kigali under the Gender Matters for Green Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) project. 

The aim of the initiative, they says, is “to increase the number of girls studying technical professions by removing the barriers that can hinder access to the courses”, including plumbing and electricity.

“To help with this, Salesians have also held an awareness-raising campaign in the surrounding community to encourage girls to enroll in technical courses,” SDB officials say.

They add that the first batch of students under the Gender Matters for Green TVET project are completing their studies and have been provided with toolkits for use in the different fields they will be working in. 

In the October 18 report, the interim director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the SDB, says, “Salesians are working to ensure that young women have access to training in these fields that are high-paying and provide long-term job stability.”

Through the jobs, “women are able to gain employment and support their families while giving back to their communities,” says Fr. Timothy Ploch about the Gender Matters for Green TVET project in Rwanda, being realized in partnership with the Austrian Development Cooperation and Jugend Eine Welt.