by Sr. Nisubire Priscille, Butare Community, Rwanda
Our Lady of Africa Training Center, opened in April 2023, has as its objective to improve the living standard of youth and enhance their human and Christian values. The center aims to give skills to the youth especially those in difficult situations, to help them be self-reliant.
For the time being, a tailoring course was the one offered for six months and ten students completed the program successfully. The training took place in a rented building of the “Economat general” of Butare as we wait for our own center. Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) collaborators assisted the community by giving some ideas about running this center, giving talks to the students and helping by giving and correcting exams. Though the time was short, the students learned many things in this field and in terms of human values.
The program ended on October 19th and this group is going to continue to work together to help each other increase their tailoring skills and get used to clients. The government might possibly support them as Rwanda encourages people to work together. The community rented sewing machines to the students. These will be returned within one year and we will continue to accompany them during this year.
Some of the outgoing students of Our Lady of Africa Training Center who completed the six months Tailoring Course share what they benefited from this training course:
“During these six months, we learned how to sew our own clothes and the clothes of others. Apart from tailoring we learned a lot from our MSOLA sisters, our teacher and the collaborators of MSOLA. On different occasions, they gave us sessions which helped us to change our personal behaviors and our way of relating with other group-members. We learned how to live together, with self-respect and respect for others. We also learned to build self–confidence and to be trustworthy. What we got through different meetings helped us to grow in self–knowledge and this enabled us to know what we do and have a vision for our lives. It also helped us to be patient with our fellow students. This learning helped us to discover that we have a gift for doing practical things.”
“We learned to build a family among us by helping one another and sharing our joy and pain. When one had a problem, we could help her/him to solve it and look for solutions. They taught us to be self–confident, to respect our dignity and then, others respect us which prevents us from falling into temptation.”
“We met people from various cultures, behaviors, mentalities and this helped us to have an open mind. We also learned to mind the time in what we do in the program and try as much as possible to have needed materials for work”.
“We are grateful to have a teacher who is competent in what she teaches and who encourages us in what we are learning and we could feel free to ask her when we do not understand. The sisters provided enough learning materials and they closely followed us in what we were learning. They took time with us and this helped us to grow in self–trust and confidence.”
“What we received during this period will help us for our own development, development of our families and of the country in general. It will also help us to live with others peacefully wherever we will be working regardless of who is working with us. We will be able to respect our own program and the program of others especially the program of our clients. We will try to do well what we do and to share the skills we got with others. We wish to continue to work together in a sewing workshop so that we can reach a sustainable development. We still need support so that we can get material in order to start our sewing workshop which will help us to have a better future.”
“We are grateful for all those who helped us to reach our objectives, we pray that what they did for us they can continue to do it for those who will come after us.”
Kamariza Lucy, Muhawenimana Adelphine, Uwihanganiyimana Triphine, Nyiramyansiro Alphonsine, Uwambayinzobe Jeanne D’Arc.
Secretary: Francoise Mugabekazi
We wish them good luck and many blessings!
On 20th November 2023, we started with a new group. There are 17 young ladies and one young man. They have not yet learned many things but they are progressively entering into the program.
Four of them are sharing with you their motivation to come for this training.
“My name is Muyishimire Odette, I am from Ruhango and I am staying in Huye district in Rwanda. I got the good news about this center through a student who had finished this tailoring course. I felt a desire to learn these skills and I came for inscription. When I arrived, I was very well received and I gave my name to be among the group which was to start. I started with others, until now we study well and we are at preferable level. I came for training with various motivation: I like the African styles and “made in Rwanda”, we need to be satisfied with our own things. I feel in me the desire to teach and help others in that it can be beneficial. Tailoring is a profession which is international, it is done in the same way everywhere.”
“I am Mushimiyimana Jeannette; I am staying in Gisagara district in Rwanda. I am a mother of two children and I have a husband. A student who finished at this center is the one who gave me this news and I felt a desire and courage to come and learn tailoring. On my arrival, I was welcomed and I found a good teacher who is knowledgeable and she is sharing with us her knowledge in this field. They also help us to respect each other and to learn how we can improve our life style after our training. I came to study with different objectives: To work hard and finish on time, to pay attention to what we are taught so to get it well and quick. To have zeal in what I do and do it with discernment and wisdom. These will help me to sustain my family. It will help me to educate my children, pay for their studies and I will develop myself in daily life.”
“My name is Iradukunda Rachel; I am staying in Huye district in Rwanda. I am a young Lady who wants to develop herself by doing tailoring and I can develop my family. In coming to study at this center, I had the objectives to study well, follow what I am taught with all my heart. As I like sewing, I want to learn it well and I would like to work with others so as to reach my objectives.”
“I am Mutabaruka Egide, I come from Huye district, I came to know this school through some students who finished learning tailoring here and I notice that they sew well and I felt that I like it. So, I came for inscription and I found that they welcome girls and boys without discrimination. I see that this training will help me for my development and will enable me to have a good future. I will be able to use this knowledge and get money as I will have self-confidence due to the skills I will have acquired.”
