Since Januar 2019 we have had 3 classes ( Senior 4 – 6 ) in this area with a total of 109 students in the field of construction.

The number of 24 young women in total is particularly pleasing.

In November 2019 the students of class 6 passed the national exam. We are very curious about whether all students have passed the exams.

We will inform you as soon as the results are available in February/March 2020.

With this new education branch in the senior classes of the Secondary School Kirinda we can make a major contribution to solving the problem of youth unemployment in this very rural region.

We would like to offer professional education in ‘Construction’ to all students of the upper classes and to make students aware of practical apprenticeship and training.

Our targets:

To give young people in and around Kirinda the chance for a profound professional education with a job guarantee and, respectively, to offer preference to technical training in a branch with great demand instead of academic studies.
Based on the experiences in Ruhango and Butare we will start with 30 students in the first year. The medium-term plans are to have 3 classes with 30 students each per year.

Results expected:

• Qualified male and female master-builders with certificate “Construction Master” in Kirinda
• Improvement of the infrastructure in the local regions
• Support of the entrepreneur culture by setting up small, independent, local construction companies in Kirinda
• The increasing rate of graduates working in employment in local construction companies as well as in international firms active in Rwanda

A considerable start-up capital (EUR 10,000) will be required for establishing this new education branch “Construction” at the IPK with an additional building and the equipment for classrooms and workshops.

For the special lessons, a qualified teacher (a trainer with special skills in construction) will be necessary 1 – 2 times per week for the beginning. The medium-term plans provide a full-time trainer job. The costs for salary will be borne by IPK.

Based on different fundraising actions (charity cooking session, betterplace.org, donations from different foundations and companies etc.) JMFA could already collect the majority of the money needed and could dispose of the start-up capital for constructing the new building and for buying necessary materials.

At the same time, the new education branch will be registered at the Ministry of Education. As soon as buildings are erected and the workshops are set up the ministry will check for approval and the lessons can start. There is a close connection to the schools in Ruhango and Butare so that their local experiences can find consideration in Kirinda’s curriculum. Additionally, these 3 schools will be in close contact with construction companies to help young people gaining practical experience during their training.

As to be seen on the photos the construction of the new workshop building is in very advanced progress and in December 2016 the necessary tools and instruments could be bought. With the start of the new semester on January 23, 2017, our first class of constructors, comprising 36 students, could be opened. We are very proud of the fast realization of this department which could be achieved by the appreciated support of the Mirja-Sachs-Foundation, the Lux Foundation, our benefit event, and by our numerous private donators.

Many thanks to all of you and good luck and success to all our students. We are looking forward to the following school years.

And, of course, we will keep you informed about the progress.

The post Looking for Constructors appeared first on JMFA.

The new academic year for the tailor’s apprenticeship started in January 2016.

50 people applied for the jobs but we had only space to train 10-12 women and men. So we had again to make a choice amongst the applicants this year and 18 young women started on February 2th with their education.

From last year’s course, 14 students successfully finished their sewing education. Nine of them already paid back the credits for their sewing machines. All students, as well as the two teachers (Clementine and Françoise), get a weekly English lesson from Dianah Samanya, the JMfA (Young People for Africa) English teacher.

Apprenticeship

In the tailor’s studio in Kirinda young men and women are trained for free as tailors. Two female tailors from Kirinda teach them how to use the sewing machines and how to pattern and make own clothes.

For one year the young people attend lessons every Monday to Friday from 8 am to 2 pm to learn and practise the use of sewing machines, paper patterns and their transfer to cloths. Bags, school uniforms, different kinds of clothing and many more handmade articles belong to the product range they have to fulfil.

The aim of the traineeship is to provide the basis for their own livelihood for all graduates from Kirinda and the surroundings.

Support by JMfA (Young people for Africa)

JMfA is sponsoring the purchase of sewing machines to the students. However, half of the purchase price is only granted as a loan which the students have to pay back to JMfA from their income as a tailor.

In addition, JMfA takes over the rent for the room where the education takes place.

And JMfA has been supporting so far all graduates by ordering hand-made bags which are sold on Christmas markets and bazaars in Germany.

Education

Graduation

The post Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds appeared first on JMFA.

In addition to this positive news, there were other positive changes in kindergarten. In the past year, more staff were hired and therefore three kindergarten teachers and three helpers are currently working in the kindergarten and it was possible to establish another class. The two nursery nurses and the nursery nurse have already completed several further training courses at the Ecole Etoile kindergarten in Rubengera, which has significantly improved the quality of the teaching. In the meantime, the kindergarten enjoys a very good reputation in the Kirinda region. Last year, a fence was built around the kindergarten, which now offers the kindergarten children a retreat room in front of the primary school children. The costs for the fence in the amount of 2000 € were paid by donations, the maintenance is taken over by the E.P.R. Kirinda.

But it does not only apply to give an education to the children. Also the parents. In April this year, a meeting took place in the kindergarten Kirinda. There the following points were discussed together with the parents, the 6 coworkers, pastor and our coordinator Francine: Hygiene, opening hours, fees, uniforms and the parents’ council was elected. Since mid-January 2019, about 140 children have been attending kindergarten in Kirinda.

Kindergarten

Graduation

The post Children’s Power appeared first on JMFA.

Again the English Club of the I.P.K. performed their popular theatre production at the end of the academic year for the complete school society. The performance consisted of a debate, sketches, dances, and music. The event took place in cooperation with the English Club of ESI, the secondary school in Shyembe, and was a huge success.

The I.P.K. English Club meets 3 times a week after the end of the lessons from 5 pm to 6 pm. It is a voluntary get-together of students from different educational levels who want to improve their English knowledge by studying together with the English teacher and the volunteers of JMfA (Young people for Africa). Activities in the English Club comprise reading texts and articles, practising vocabulary, leading debates, and performing plays.

Last year the local state-run secondary school, the 9 Years Basic Education, started their own English Club. It consists of 85 active members with Dianah, our JMfA English teacher as the head.

Thanks to numerous donations we could provide a set of T-shirts for the members of the English Club.

The post English for Everybody appeared first on JMFA.

In 2013 we installed a library with numerous books for the primary school and the 9-year basic school.

Meanwhile, the library is finding more and more approval and we are about to recruit the first female students who finished school as new coworkers. Noella, for example, a former student of the IPK,  is now working in the library of the 9 years basic and primary school.

Last year a large number of new books could be bought and they are all catalogued meanwhile. Ferdinand, the librarian of the IPK library, could participate in further training at the Rwanda library in Kigali during the December holidays. Next year he will familiarize the librarian of GS Kirinda with his newly achieved knowledge.

Computer Science

15 laptops were sponsored by the company SAG, Germany, for the newly installed computer science class at IPK in 2014. These laptops are at the disposal for the students for their special lessons during the day. In the evening all other students may use the laptops for computer research as well.

Library

Computer Science

The post From Analogue to Digital appeared first on JMFA.

In 2020, 78 pupils were supported by the sponsorship project.

Primary School

In primary school the base for a good education for children is built. But inspite of all education we will never forget the fun.

(have a look at the photo gallery)

Final Exam

Primary School

The post Congratulations! appeared first on JMFA.