Local authorities in Karongi District have praised the impact of Rwanda’s national “Igira ku Murimo” (Learning on the Job) program, reporting that 65% of trainees who complete the initiative in the district are able to secure employment right away.
The figures were announced during a ceremony held at Home Saint Jean Hotel, where 20 young trainees received certificates after completing intensive hands-on training in hospitality and customer service.
A Government Initiative Transforming Youth Employment
Launched in 2023, the Igira ku Murimo program was designed to bridge the gap between education and the labor market by placing unemployed graduates in private-sector institutions where they learn professional skills through practical work.
Under the program, graduates are assigned to industries such as hospitality, carpentry, construction, and other service sectors. The approach has already proven effective: Rwanda’s unemployment rate dropped from 16.8% in 2024 to 13.4% in 2025, a decline of 3.4 percentage points attributed largely to work-based learning initiatives.
Young Beneficiaries Share Life-Changing Experiences
Among those who secured employment through the program is Uwurukundo Sandrine, a young woman from Gatsibo District. After completing high school in 2024, she spent a full year job-hunting without success until she came across a WhatsApp announcement in April 2025. The advertisement indicated that Home Saint Jean Hotel in Karongi was recruiting unemployed graduates for on-the-job training.
Uwurukundo applied immediately.
During the three months of training, she learned practical skills such as preparing various types of coffee and juices, as well as delivering professional customer service skills that helped her secure a position as a manager at a popular bar in Karongi. “My advice to unemployed youth is to make good use of social media. Whenever you see institutions looking for trainees, apply immediately,” she said.
Another trainee, Mbarushimana Yannick, graduated in 2023 with a degree in History, Geography, and Literature. After two years of unemployment, he received an opportunity to work in Qatar’s hospitality sector but missed it because he lacked professional certification.
Determined not to lose another chance, he joined the Igira ku Murimo program. Now equipped with a certificate, he says several institutions are already in talks with him.“I’m confident I’ll have a job within two months. My message to the youth is to embrace the opportunities offered by the program.”
Institutions Also Benefit from Skilled Workers
Father Gaspard Nzabahimana, Director of Home Saint Jean, said the hotel joined the program after realizing that some employees it hired lacked adequate professional skills.“Through this program, we train young people in hospitality knowledge and essential professional values. It helps us meet service standards while giving young people a strong foundation for their careers,” he said.
Karongi District Plans to Train More Youth
According to Nyiramporanyeninkiko Anitha, the district’s officer in charge of promoting employment, the results speak for themselves:
65% of the program’s trainees immediately find jobs, either within Karongi or in neighboring districts. “For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, we plan to train 214 additional young people under the Igira ku Murimo initiative,” she noted.
The achievements in Karongi highlight the transformative power of work-based learning in combating youth unemployment giving young graduates not just skills, but confidence and a direct pathway into the job market.
