By Seif Shaggy Gracien Hasingizwimana/Kigali,Rwanda,
Mbali na kusindika maboga na kuyabadilisha kuwa bidhaa za mikate na keki, kampuni ya Iwacu Bakery Solutions Ltd inaendelea kuchangia katika kuwasaidia vijana kupata ujuzi wa vitendo na ajira.
Kiwanda hiki kilianzishwa na Valens Ruhorimbere, mhitimu wa masomo ya Sayansi na Teknolojia ya Chakula (Food Science and Technology) kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Rwanda, baada ya kuona kuwa maboga mengi yaliyovunjwa yalikuwa yanakosa soko na thamani ambayo ingeweza kuyazalishia faida.
Alisema: “I realized that pumpkins offered a real opportunity to add value to local farm yields while creating sustainable jobs for young people. It was a crop readily available in our fields, yet completely neglected as a viable commercial commodity.”
Ruhorimbere alitumia ujuzi alioupata chuoni kuanzisha Iwacu Bakery Solutions Ltd inayofanya kazi chini ya chapa ya IHANGO Maxima, ambapo wanasindika maboga na kuyatengeneza kuwa mikate, keki, na unga maalum wenye lengo la kukuza afya bora ya wananchi na kupunguza uharibifu wa mazao ya wakulima baada ya kuvuna.
Kwa ushirikiano na UPHLS, kiwanda hiki kimeshafanya mafunzo kwa vijana wapatao 120 kutoka Wilaya ya Gatsibo. Miongoni mwao wamo wasichana na wanawake 70 pamoja na watu 30 wenye ulemavu, ambao wote wanapewa ujuzi wa vitendo katika upishi wa mikate na utengenezaji wa bidhaa zingine za mikate na keki.
Miongoni mwa waliopata mafunzo hayo ni Eliezer Manirareba, kijana mwenye ulemavu aliyefika katika kiwanda hiki akitafuta mafunzo ya kazi.
Ruhorimbere alisema kuwa kabla ya kufika hapo, kupata kazi kwake kukuwa vigumu kutokana na jinsi watu walivyowachukulia watu wenye ulemavu. Baada ya kupewa mafunzo na kazi, alionyesha uwezo mkubwa wa pekee hadi kufikia kuwa mmoja wa wafanyakazi wanaofanya vizuri zaidi kuliko wengine.
Akizungumzia mfano huo, Ruhorimbere alisema: “It showed me that ‘Disability is not inability.’ When people are given equal opportunities, they deliver remarkable results.”
Hapo mwanzo, kiwanda hiki kilikuwa kikifanya kazi kwa kiwango kidogo kutokana na ukosefu wa vifaa vya kutosha na majengo ya kisasa ya kusindikizia mazao. Baadaye kilipata ufadhili wa Matching Grant uliotolewa kupitia mradi wa Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP).
Mradi huo ulikuwa na thamani ya RWF 101,239,532, ambapo SAIP ilitoa 70% ya bajeti, naye Ruhorimbere akatoa 30%.
Akieleza faida ya ufadhili huo, Ruhorimbere alisema: “Before receiving the SAIP Matching Grant, we lacked modern machinery and had low production capacity. The funding enabled us to build a modern processing plant and acquire essential industrial machinery to scale up high-quality output.”
Hadi sasa, kiwanda hiki kimeshawapa ajira wafanyakazi wa kudumu 17 pamoja na zaidi ya 20 wanaofanya kazi za muda, huku kikishiriki pia kuwa soko la kuaminika kwa wakulima wa maboga.
Kiwanda pia kina Leseni ya Uendeshaji wa Chakula (Food Operation License) iliyotolewa na Rwanda FDA, na kipo katika hatua ya mwisho ya kupata cheti cha ubora cha RSB S-Mark, baada ya kuwasilisha vipimo vyote vya maabara.
Akihitimisha, Ruhorimbere anawahimiza vijana kuanzisha miradi inayosuluhisha matatizo yaliyopo katika jamii.
Alisema: “Do not be afraid to start. Begin with what you have, solve a real community problem, stay purposeful, and keep learning. Funding and opportunities naturally follow a solid idea and persistent hard work.”
