Friends Peace House

Vestine Uwamahoro grew up in Juru Sector, in Rwanda's Bugesera District, part of a family that struggled just to get by. That hardship eventually reached her education too. She had to leave secondary school, not for lack of ability, but because her family couldn't keep up with the costs. Then in March 2023, she heard that Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera, working with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), was running a free six-month training program in Masonry and Tailoring. Something about tailoring just felt right for her, so that's what she chose. Over the following six months, plus a two-month internship, Vestine threw herself into learning the trade, finishing the program in September 2023. Felicite Ishimwe, her school manager at Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera, remembers her as a courageous and disciplined student, always eager to learn and fully focused on her work. After graduating, Vestine received a startup toolkit to help her get started on her own. She used it to open her own tailoring shop, and she now earns a living entirely through her own skill and effort. The family that once struggled financially is now in a far more stable place, thanks to what Vestine learned and built at Mwananshuti VTC. In her own words: "I'm so thankful to Mwananshuti VTC and to partners like MCC for the support that truly changed my life. I hope you keep reaching more young people in our community who are going through what I once went through."

NIYIGENA Marie Chantal, born in 2001, is from Juru Sector in Bugesera District and trained in tailoring at Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera. As the eldest of five children, she grew up in severe poverty where access to food was a daily challenge. She completed only five years of primary school before dropping out to help her parents on the farm. While still young, she learned about the free training opportunities at Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera, applied, and was accepted. She chose to specialize in tailoring, completed six months of training, and undertook a two-month internship. After training, she secured employment at a local tailoring shop earning 15,000 Frw per month. She immediately joined a savings and lending group, through which she obtained a loan to purchase her first sewing machine, forming the foundation of her own business. While continuing to work at the shop, she rented a workspace for 3,000 Frw per month and steadily saved money. Over time, she established her own tailoring shop, which now operates with three sewing machines—two rented out and one personally owned. She is fully self-reliant and supports both her parents and siblings. She has also financed her own wedding and is now married, building a life with her husband. In her words, she expresses gratitude to Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera for providing free knowledge, stating that she has transformed her life away from the conditions she was born into.

At Mwananshuti VTC Kicukiro, the Culinary Arts trade equips trainees with essential skills in food preparation, kitchen hygiene, and meal presentation required in the hospitality field. Planned improvements center on strengthening the kitchen setup through better materials and equipment.

At Mwananshuti VTC Bugesera, the Tailoring and Masonry trades provide training in garment making alongside foundational construction techniques such as bricklaying and site work. Attention is directed toward improving the materials used in both sections to reinforce practical learning.

At Mwananshuti VTC Kicukiro, the Hairdressing trade develops practical ability in hair care, styling, and basic salon operations, combining skill with creativity. The next focus is on enhancing the range and condition of salon materials to support more effective practice.