It’s well known that Rwanda is a land of cycling. Not only on a sporting and international level, but above all as a means of daily transport, which is very widespread given the quality of many roads.
The lack of equipment and difficulties in obtaining supplies (bicycles, spare parts, etc.) prompted this association to come up with an ingenious, functional and innovative solution, by creating its own bamboo bicycle frames. This construction requires specially trained people. Similarly, the maintenance of bicycles, whether industrial or artisanal, requires specialists. It’s a niche that’s perfectly suited to young girls/women. But first, the “trainers” had to be trained with the support of professionals from various branches (carpentry, mechanics, welding, economic-financial management and budgeting, etc.) and specialists from France and Switzerland.
Once this was done, a first batch of 24 apprentices (80% of them women) was selected and began their training in March 2024 for 6 months, followed by a 3-month internship with one of the partners.
The Ride for the Future project impressed the FH with its originality, creativity and, above all, the excellent prospects it offers.
Urumuri’s project, Ride for the future, is based in Nyamata, an hour’s drive from Kigali Rwanda.
Needless to say, the welcome was warm. Once the initial shyness had been overcome, the smiles, singing and dancing expressed the gratitude of the apprentices and trainers for having been given the chance to take part in such a program. Emotions ran high as everyone described their very difficult journeys.
Joëlle Huguenin, coordinator of the Urumuri project in Rwanda, together with Alexis (vice-president), Yvan (manager), Dorothée (socio-therapist) and Faustine (translator) proudly led the tour of the premises where the future professionals – 8 women and 4 boys – are trained in bicycle mechanics and maintenance, bamboo manufacturing and welding. The five trainers, who were also trained by Urumuri, are highly motivated to pass on their knowledge in turn, supervised in particular by the socio-therapist whose work binds the team together and restores the participants’ confidence in the future.
Prospects for future graduates are excellent, given that bicycles are the preferred means of transport, both for goods and for people (cab velo), in this least hilly region of the country.
The selection of future apprentices (80% girls/women) for the 2025 training courses has already begun.
In agreement with the local authorities, Joëlle and her helpers are also working to improve the overall conditions in Nyamata, particularly in terms of security and health coverage.
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