PROJECT-SUPPORT RWANDA

Sangira Association - Friends of Rwanda, Wädenswil, Switzerland

Country / Place

Rwanda, Nyamasheke

Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It borders Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania. Because of its hilly landscape, Rwanda is also called the "land of a thousand hills". The main African watershed between the catchment areas of the Nile and the Congo runs through the national territory. Kigali, the capital and largest city of the state, is located in the centre of the country on the Kagera River.

Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The majority of the population lives in rural areas, although urbanisation is increasing. The high population pressure is Rwanda's main structural problem, as the country has hardly any industry and does not have any significant resources.  

The Nyamasheke district in the southwest of Rwanda borders Lake Kivu. While economic development is progressing in the northern part of its coast, the approximately three million inhabitants here live predominantly in rural poverty.

General

The Sangira Association is made up of committed professionals who work on a voluntary basis and contribute their knowledge free of charge.

Sangira is a joint project between Rwandans and Swiss. They want to promote education in Nyamasheke, creating prospects in the region. The goal is to reduce the unemployment rate in the area over the next few years. The construction of the eco-lodge-hotel school, and the combined vocational training, are bringing this goal closer to reality.

Beneficiaries

Sangira provides non-privileged Rwandans with solid, professional vocational training in the hotel, catering, carpentry, and horticulture sectors. Priority is given to women, as they make a crucial contribution in feeding their families.

Young people have no job prospects after leaving school. Without alternatives, they work as farmers on their parents' land, although the need for further education is very high. There are only 14 vocational schools in the entire district, of which the closest to the Sangira project site is 30 km away.

Project-support

Vocational training / Hotel industry training

The Sangira association brings together Rwanda and Swiss hotel industry knowledge and starts a long-lasting and complementary cooperation. They also offer English courses with a focus on the hotel industry. With the Sangira hotel industry training, young people get the chance for vocational training and new perspectives for their future. Nothing stands in the way of a career because Rwanda needs more hotel staff.

The training lasts 9 months and also includes personality development, general education, English, and a strengths and weaknesses analysis.

Training plan:
- 6 months of training in a specialised field: housekeeping, service, reception, or cook
- 3 months internships with hospitality partners in Nyamasheke and other districts

The provider of the vocational training is a local cooperation partner. Classes are held in rented rooms in a newly constructed building. There are also cooperations with the hospitality schools and hotels in Kigali.