In Rwanda’s evolving education landscape, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is doing more than just preparing youth for the job market it’s becoming a powerful driver for gender transformation and social progress. At the center of this change are institutions like Don Bosco TVET schools, where the curriculum is as much about wiring circuits or stitching clothes as it is about unlearning bias and reimagining roles.
On May 17, 2025, Don Bosco Tech Africa hosted a Gender Equality Campaign and Dialogue Forum at Don Bosco Gatenga TVET School under the theme “I Stand for Inclusive Education.” What emerged from the forum was not just a celebration of brave students defying gender norms but a blueprint for how community-focused, skills-based education can reshape societal values.
TVET as a Catalyst for Gender Equity
Don Bosco’s programs are increasingly recognized not just for producing competent graduates, but for cultivating gender-aware citizens. The shift is visible in student enrollment: construction and electrical trades, once male-dominated, are now drawing determined young women. Similarly, boys are enrolling in hospitality and tailoring courses, challenging the notion that caregiving and design are “women’s work.”
According to Aurore Niyitanga, Gender Officer at Don Bosco Muhazi, this transformation didn’t happen overnight. “We embedded gender sensitivity into our curriculum and outreach. It wasn’t just about access to training, but about changing mindsets — among students, parents, and employers.”
A Community Movement, Not Just a School Policy
The ripple effects go beyond campus walls. As students like Rozine Kelly Ineza push boundaries in classrooms, schools are taking their stories into the wider community. Village forums, school-community partnerships, and media engagements are helping challenge deeply rooted cultural norms.
Francoise Ingabire, Gender Officer for Rwamagana District, noted that TVET institutions are playing an unexpected yet crucial role in local development. “When communities see a girl climb an electric pole or a boy lead a catering team, it changes perceptions. It becomes a local success story.”
Employability Meets Equality
Perhaps the most urgent message from the forum was directed at employers. Speakers urged businesses to break hiring stereotypes and adopt skills-based recruitment. Rozine, a confident third-year electrical student, put it simply: “We’re ready. Hire us for what we can do — not who we are.”
Her message resonated with attendees from both the public and private sectors, sparking dialogue on how inclusive hiring practices can fuel both economic growth and social justice.
A National Model in the Making
What’s happening at Don Bosco schools is more than an isolated success it’s a potential national model. By linking skills development with gender equity, Rwanda is not only addressing employment gaps but also nurturing a generation that sees equality as the norm, not the exception.
As the campaign concluded, it was clear that TVET is no longer just about trades it’s about transformation. And in Rwanda, that transformation is being led by the youth, supported by schools, and slowly embraced by entire communities.
