Iwawa enrolls former drug abusing youth and others with naughty behaviors to be integrated in normal life. Youth undergoing rehabilitation at the center are equipped with vocational skills in agriculture, carpentry, tailoring, handcraft and driving among other relevant skillsets that some of them create jobs after graduation.

After holding discussions with Zandile Makhoba, JCI Vice President for Africa and Middle East who is on a visit to Rwanda, the management of Kigali city has expressed willingness to partner with the organization.

During discussions held on Thursday, Makhoba took Kigali city management through different youth empowerment programs of the organization.

Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-economic Affairs, Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi commended the organization’s impactful initiatives and stressed the need to develop partnership to walk together along the development journey.

“We want to enter partnership agreement to explore avenues of cooperation particularly empowering youth that graduated from Iwawa to implement their projects. Besides, we have Kigali Employment Service Center in Kimisagara which also acquaints unemployed youth with vocational skills required at the labour market. The partnership might also strengthen that program,” she revealed.

Umutoni explained that the partnership is also expected to develop specific programs tailored to promote girls’ wellbeing and development.

As she said, both parties will sit together to discuss implementation process and assess anticipated outcome.

JCI is an international Non-Governmental Organization that builds the capacity of the youth through training in entrepreneurship, leadership, fellowship and self-responsibility in over 115 countries.

The organization opened doors to Rwanda in 2005 where it has 200 members.

Zandile Makhoba, JCI Vice President for Africa and Middle East (second right) with the representatives from Kigali city and the President of JCI Rwanda, Origene Igiraneza after holding discussions.

The President of JCI Rwanda, Origene Igiraneza said that collaboration is paramount to impact the community.