Kigali: 1,743 young people who benefited rehabilitation services and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses like carpentry, masonry, tailoring and agriculture with literacy and numeracy, motorcycle driving and other crosscutting courses in Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre (IRC) will be given certificates of competence on this 15th February 2019 and go back in their respective families.
Today’s graduation ceremony of the young people rehabilitated at IRC is organized for the 17th time, by the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS).
Speaking about this event, the Director General of the National Rehabilitation Service, Mr. Aimé Bosenibamwe, appreciated efforts made so far by NRS stakeholders and partners mainly local and Government institutions, private institutions, civil society organisations and churches in the social economic reintegration of young people who graduate from rehabilitation centres.
He also called them to keep the momentum so as to ensure successful reintegration of the graduates.
“Our stakeholders are now participating in the reintegration and family reunification of graduates from rehabilitation centres. We appreciate that step made so far and urge them to put more efforts in the reintegration of the graduates so as to prevent recidivism”, he said.
“We take this opportunity to encourage the Rwandan community to always provide a warm welcome to the youth graduating from rehabilitation centres and facilitate their social reintegration in the community because they leave rehabilitation centres with adequate attitudes and behaviours that are not detrimental to the community”, he added.
The 17th Graduation Ceremony of young people and adult men rehabilitated in Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre will be attended by different dignitaries including representatives from various Government institutions, churches, and civil society; among others.
About Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre
Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre (IRC) is located on Iwawa Island of Kivu Lake, in Boneza Sector of Rutsiro District, Western Province. IRC is one of three rehabilitation centres of the National Rehabilitation Service which are:
•Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre in which male delinquents of over 18 years old who exhibit deviant behaviours are rehabilitated. To date, IRC has the capacity to accommodate 4,000 male delinquents per year but activities to upgrade it so that it accommodates 6,000 delinquents per year are about to start.
•Gitagata Rehabilitation Centre located in Musenyi Sector of Bugesera District, Eastern province in which children between 10-18 years old who exhibit deviant behaviours and street children are rehabilitated.
To date, GRC has the capacity to shelter 300 boys per intake, but in 2017 the Government of Rwanda took a decision to upgrade it so that it accommodates 500 boys between 10-18 years and 500 females (200 women, 100 young girls under 18 years and 200 girls above 18 years old) who exhibit deviant behaviours. Therefore, construction works to upgrade it are underway and the 1st phase is expected to complete by February 2019.
•Nyamagabe Rehabilitation Centre located in Gatare Sector of Nyamagabe District, Southern Province, is under construction and will accommodate 2,000 adult men who exhibit deviant behaviours, for their rehabilitation process.
The main mission of Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre is to rehabilitate male delinquents from across the country so that they stop drug consumption or any other deviant behaviour, equip them with vocational and hands on skills that will help them integrate in the community and participate in the social- economic and political development of Rwanda. TVET courses provided to the youths admitted at IRC are led by the Workforce Development Authority (WDA).
To date over 18,000 male delinquents have been rehabilitated and graduated from Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre. The total population of male delinquents currently admitted in Iwawa Rehabilitation Centre is 3,880 people, with 1743 in vocational training who are about to graduate today and 2,137 in rehabilitation phase. (End)