The Japanese
envoy with Masahiro Imai ambassador of Japan to Rwanda visited Mutobo
Demobilization and Reintegration Centre in Musanze District on February
18th, 2020. (Dan Nsengiyumva)
The Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda,
Masahiro Imai, on February 18, visited Mutobo Demobilization and
Reintegration Centre in Musanze District—his first excursion outside
Kigali since he assumed his duty to represent Japan in Rwanda two months
ago.
During his visit, he observed different
projects of Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC)
that are being implemented through support of Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA). This centre equips ex-combatant with skills
in masonry, tailoring and farming.
“Obviously, your efforts brought great
success and I was impressed by this uniqueness to reintegrate
ex-combatants and people with disabilities into the society. After your
training, you will be an important work force, which can be a driving
force for development of your own country. Skilled workers are always in
high demand. I believe that vocational trainings are indispensable to
support self-sustaining economic activities.” Imai said.
Imai asserted that Japan hosts the Olympic
and Paralympic Games in Tokyo this year. In this context, he explained
that Japan has been striving to create a social model in which a variety
of people including those with disabilities can expand their scope of
activities in a barrier free society in the wider sense, by not only
removing physical but also institutional, social and psychological
barriers. He hopes that there will be more beneficiaries to be
reintegrated through RDRC’s engagement to realize the symbiosis.
RDRC has been supporting ex-combatants to
reintegrate into society since 1997. Japan provided support to RDRC
twice from 2005 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2014 through JICA’s technical
cooperation programmes in the amount of around 3.3 million USD and
dispatched Japanese experts to Rwanda to contribute to social
participation of the ex-combatants and other people with disabilities.
In November 2019, JICA President Award was
commend to RDRC because of its continued activities with outstanding
achievements of the socio-economic development, especially contributing
to peacekeeping and reconciliation in Rwanda as well as the Great Lake
region. Mr. Shin MARUO, chief representative of JICA Rwanda Office, said
that RDRC’s engagement could be beneficial and valuable to be shared in
other African countries as well.
Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration
Centre is home for more than 300 ex-combatants, including ex-child
soldiers. The children go to school while others are undergoing
vocational training.
Fred NYAMURANGWA, Commissioner of RDRC,
said Japan has supported the centre for ex-combatants in different
vocational trainings such as sewing, agriculture, construction and he is
confident every trained ex-combatant can make good use of acquired
skills to enhance their living standards for their families and their
neighboring communities.
Leoncie NYIRAHABIMANA, had spent 24 years
in the Congolese forests and has now been trained at the centre. She
said her new life started here and she maintains a good relationship
with her neighbors in the community. She hopes that with the vocational
trainings received such as tailoring, her future with her family is
promising.
Over 11, 000 ex-combatants have been
integrated into society after undergoing trainings at Mutobo
Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre heretofore. As Japan contributed
to these sustainable activities, it would be profitable that the centre
continues to produce skilled workers and integrate them into society.
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