Author: b_igi_adm1n

Real Contractors Limited a local construction and real estate company has awarded a job and a brand new laptop to Olivier Nsabamungu that emerged the best student in his class.

Nsabamungu beat the rest of students in Environmental Management and Water Technology class 2009, 2010.

Nsabamungu graduated with a distinction and was awarded an Advance Diploma at the first-ever graduation ceremony held at the integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre Kigali (IPRC).

Over 170 students graduated, with the ceremony being attended by the Prime Minister Dr Pierre Damien Habumuremyi and Education Minister Vincent Biruta among other senior officials.

Both Habumuremyi and Biruta stressed the importance of vocational and technical education in the country’s developing saying that it provides the much needed skills in the job market.

The Prime Minister urged parents to take their children to vocational institutions since skills offered there help them create their own jobs after graduating.

Handing over the prize to Nsabamungu, Real Contractors Limited General Manager, Charles Lugira, said: “I have the pleasure to present an award to the best student who has completed studies with the highest marks.”

Lugira urged other students to work hard. “You have a great responsibility to continue to pursue your careers and to continue to strive for excellence in every area of your lives,” he said adding that what the students acquired is “not just an education but a ticket to change the world” starting with changing the industry and the country at large.

Lugira said the time has come for the private sector to foster relationships with institutions of higher learning to inspire technicians and engineers, saying they have responsibility in developing the country.

Nzabamungu applauded Real contractors for the prizes, saying he will do his best to contribute the country and encouraged students behind him to concentrate on their academics.

Under its 2012/2012 Corporate Social Responsibility plan, Real Contractor has participated in social activities which positively impact on local communities, says Lugira.

The company has participated in initiatives such as Bye-bye Nyakatsi, One Cow Per Family Project (Girinka) and the donation of mutuelle de santé for the disadvantaged people in Kigali, Rwamagana, Nyagatare, Rusizi, Muhanga and Ruhengeri.

The company is in partnership with all academic institutions that are in line with its business. They offer industrial attachments, prizes and jobs to best students in engineering departments.

Real Contractors Limited won the RDB Business Excellence awards 2011 in the real estate sector for its innovativeness and contributing to Rwanda’s economy by providing employment, paying taxes and creating market for its suppliers.

Eight women and ten men some Interns and Trainers have been awarded certificates by Digital Opportunity Trust after completion of 10 months internship under ReachUp! Program on Project Management, Advocacy, Facilitation, coaching and leadership skills.

DOT’s vision is to make these opportunities available to marginalized people, especially women and youth, as a strategy to eradicate poverty, vulnerability and gender inequality.

Nadine Umuhire a Computer Engineer at KIST and an outgoing Intern said, “Over nine months we trained and coached marginalized community members in ICT, Life Skills and Entrepreneurship. This has improved their livelihoods and incomes. We helped them conduct market research, business planning and sourcing for micro finance.”

Hormisdas Ndayambaje – Teacher and intern says,“The time we had at DOT has been about our delivering the ReachUp! Program. When I think of DOT, I think of Business not employment. It means a lot to me. I have learnt from the courage of participants. I have seen them grow and transform their lives.”

DOT works with Community Participants which include women, youth, unemployed and under-employed where the entrepreneurial spirit and skills are developed within their minds.

Within the training each intern is supposed to teach a minimum of 20 participants each month on ICT, business and livelihood skills and 140 participants are expected to be taught at the end of the training of each.

DOT Rwanda was launched in March 2010 to deliver the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development in Rwanda (E2DR) Project to deliver DOT’s economic programs the ReachUp! and StartUp!

DOT was established in Canada in 2002, Digital Opportunity Trust is an innovator in enabling people to access and apply information and communications technologies (ICT) to create education, economic and entrepreneurial opportunities.

It was awarded funding to run its program by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the MasterCard Foundation.

On a medium sized mountain called Cyakabiri in the center of Rwanda sets Binunga Village where ‘Urukundo Home for Children’was started in 2006 by Arlene Brown.

The Home for Children has 44 children, aged between 1 and 19 years.

The project is funded by the Rotary Foundation through a Matching Grant initiated by the Rotary Club of Forest Hills in Pittsburgh, USA and hosted by the Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga.

Over 8800 gallons a day will be pumped up a mountain to the orphanage/school and a village of about 2500 people that have no water at that level and must travel down the mountain to manually haul water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and to water livestock.

The project estimated at a cost of Rwf41.6 Million, will free women and children of the burden of hauling the water.This will make more abundant water available for these uses and for gardening.

“This project is typical of the good works and projects that Rotary International provides” says Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga President Dr. Jolly Mazimhaka.

Kigali-Virunga Rotary Club is also behind the initial idea of establishing the first public library in Rwanda (across from the US Embassy at Kacyiru) which, it is hoped, will open later this year.

The project was officially launched this past Saturday 18th February, 2012 at a village just outside of Gitarama.

This was an important event for the community who turned up singing songs of appreciation to all parties that made this project a reality.

Through the songs and poetry/spoken word the community also pledged to look after the solar powered water pumps.

To better understand just what this community had to go through to fetch just one jerry can of water, visiting Rotarians walked down a steep slope to look at the source/spring water.

Whilst the walk down the slope was slippery often requiring that one uses both hands not to fall down, walking back proved to be even a bigger challenge – an exercise reserved for those who are fit and strong.

This made those with running water in their homes to realize just how fortunate they are.

About Rotary

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

There are 5 Rotary Clubs in Rwanda, 4 in Kigali and 1 in Butare. Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga meets every Wednesday at 7 PM at the Umubano /Laico Hotel. New members and guests are always welcome.

Additional Information Contact;

Urukondo Foundation Water Project:

Prof. William Kosar 0784 529 057/ [email protected]

Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga:

President Dr. Jolly Mazimhaka/[email protected]

The first batch comprising of 177 students have graduated at the Kicukiro College of Technology since the institution was revived to contribute to the country’s vocational skills gap.

Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi that was the chief Guest at the ceremony advised granduates to create jobs instead of seeking jobs.

“You will be defined by your hard work. Your work is what will give you the dignity you deserve and build your country,” He said.

This is the first graduation conducted at Kicukiro College of Technology. Graduates have completed bachelor’s degree programs in engineering, electrical engineering, Information Communication Technology and mechanics.

Education Minister Dr. Vincent Biruta urged graduates on entrepreneurship. He told them to strive and become employers.

“After graduating from your respective institutions, what follows is not flipping through the newspapers looking for jobs. You should leave this place to be entrepreneurs and becoming employers.” Biruta said.

During the graduation ceremony, 9 outstanding students received special recognition.

Kicukiro College of Technology was established in 2008 and currently has 1586 students.

Special recognition was also accorded to partners of the College that have played a vital role in the daily running of the college.

ENDS

Some residents in Murambi sector Gatsibo district formerly living grass thatched houses(Nyakatsi) have sought government intervention due to terrible conditions they are living.

Michel Habarurema one of those former tenants of Nyakatsi decried his house’s one side knock down with his family sleeps opposite their livestock that include goats and hens.

The toilet hole not covered and only a hole with pieces of banana stems laid on it.

Speaking to Invaho Nshya, Habarurema said that the house is not his and he can’t afford renovation by his own.

He said, “I am worried about the conditions I am living in with my family.” And has no medical insurance.

“I have been registered among people to be paid for by the government but I am not on the published lists.” Habarurema decried.

District authority confirmed the development but said that they have handed the matter to relevant authorities to correct the lists.

Tharcisse Nizeyimana, in charge of social affairs in Murambi sector said that they started with the poorest people.

“Since poor people were very many, we began with people terribly in need.” He said,

In the program of helping poor people especially those from Nyakatsi, only 2000 sheets metals were provided whereas the total number needed was exceeding 4000.

ENDS

Rwandan rapper MJ, commonly known as John Mutabazi will be singing his popular songs “Sigaho” and “Ubuzima” for the first time at tomorrow’s
concert.

Mutabazi a 22 year old musician in his debut is scheduled to sing two of his biggest hits at one of Rwanda’s local star’s miss Knowless.

The singer who was raised up as an orphan says he had always wanted to be a rapper adding; “Music is my life”.

He started singing at the age of ten and ever since then his destiny is to become one of the great rappers of his generation.

From his album titled “sigaho” the name of his hit track that he will perform at tomorrow’s concert, said that he was very excited for the concert because it will be the first time that he will perform the track in front of a big crowd.

Mutabazi started off with his first producer called Dr. Jack who was the former producer and manger of the studio F2K which has helped him to fame.
Now Mutabazi is working with producer Davedenko, the current producer of the F2K studio.

His songs are commonly played on stations like the voice of Africa, Isango Star and City Radio among others.

He says that apart from his music, he simply like to hang out with friends.

Tharcisse Shamakokera a member of lower Chamber of Parliament reportedly died of lung disease mid this week.

According to a communiqué from the parliament, Shamakokera,68, was being treated at King Faisal Hospital and got to his last hour around 9AM Wednesday.

Shamakokera was a member of the commission in charge of Education, Technology, culture and Youth in the lower chamber of parliament.

He performed many activities before assuming his duties in the parliament including teaching while in Uganda and Burundi and different others.

Shamakokera started working in the parliament since 2008 when RPF-Inkotanyi in which he was employed, asked him to submit his candidacy.

The deceased legislator was in charge of social affairs in the office of the President, in office of the prime minister and then worked in the secretariat of RPF-Inkotanyi.

He had a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the National University of Rwanda, becoming the third Legislator to die after Aimable Nibishaka who died in July 2011 and Judith Kanakuze in February 2010 since their elections in 2008.

A resident of Kimironko sector, Gasabo District in Kigali city has survived a wife and four children, 2 sons and 2 daughters.

ENDS

More Rwandan refugees have continued to visit their mother country, Rwanda to obtain the truth about the progress made and thus help them decide on returning to settle in Rwanda.

The Visits are arranged under a program entitled “Come and See, Go and Tell”. The program is managed by the Ministry in charge of Disaster Management and Refugees.

After 18 years, Gerardine Mukakabego, a lecturer in Zambia has met his relatives including her mother resident in Huye district in the southern province.

Mukakabego is a lecturer at two universities in Zambia namely national University of Zambia and Gavendish University.

She arrived with fabrice Habinshuti and Marie Christine Ineza all from Zambia.

Habinshuti, 20 said that he is happy to come back to Rwanda because it had been difficult for him to come. “I am happy to visit Rwanda after 10 years; it was hard for me to get a visa and I don’t know why I am a refugee.”

He added that he faces many obstacles as a football player. “I cannot obtain a passport as a Zambian citizen. This prevents me from attending specific games.”

Placide Bernard Ndayambaje in charge of helping refugees’ repatriation said that the program helps them to know the current status of Rwanda.

He added that it also help refugees know the exact truth of Rwanda contrary to some people who blackmail Rwanda.

He said, “those who don’t refugees to come are those who are Genocide suspects who fear to remain alone abroad once other refugees are repatriated.”

The government of Rwanda has decided to send possible documents wishing to come to visit Rwanda and it also provide the ticket for those who are completely returning from exile to reach their homes.

This triple visited different places including Huye town, the National University of Rwanda and a family of one of them residing at Sovu in Huye sector.

They fully appreciated the achievements of Rwanda as some of them like Mukakabego went in exile during 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

ENDS

Yvonne Uwayisenga vice chairperson Political Affairs and Gender Committee in the lower chamber of deputies described Tharcisse Shamakokera as honest with integrity.

Uwayisenga worked with the late Shamakokera at the Prime Minister’s office and later at the Parliament. She says he will be missed by former co-workers, friends, family and the nation.

“He was an honourable man and hard working. May God rest his soul in peace,” Uwayisenga said.

Shamakokera Represented Nyarugenge District in Parliament. He died Tuesday night at King Faisal Hospital after prolonged illness.

Francis Kaboneka also a member of parliament said Shamakokera was a very hard working man who had the country at his heart.

“To some of us, he has been an advisor. We are going to miss him very much”. Kaboneka said.

MP. Henriette Sebera Mukamurangwa said it was so sad especially now that, in this mandate, again they have lost another colleague. “It is a tragedy.”

“The late honorable Shemakokera was a very humble man, very kind and social. Let him rest in peace, is all I can say.” Mukamurangwa added.

Joseph Desire Nyandwi says that although their late colleague had been hospitalised for long time, his death came as a shock.

“He was more than a colleague. He was hard working and selfless,” Nyandwi said.

The late Shamakokera was a Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) party representative at parliament House.

He died at age of 68 survived with a wife and four children, as well as grand children. His mother too is still alive.