Comfort International volunteers Rebekah, Louisa and Grace are in Rwanda with Comfort Rwanda helping to visit projects and provide support. They recently accompanied the Comfort Rwanda team on a visit to Mbwirandumva Vocational Training Centre where two of the mothers from Comfort Babies are being supported by their sponsors to go through the program and learn skills for life which will help them to build their own businesses and futures.
Volunteer Rebekah writes, “[The mothers’] sponsors provide support to allow them to attend the Vocational Centre to learn hairdressing. The reason for our visit was to check on their studies, resolve outstanding payments and supplies needed for the mums. Upon arrival we spoke with the head of the centre who was very happy to hear about the work that Comfort International does. Upon discussion it was clear that a lot of their values align with those of Comfort International. The centre provides training in both tailoring and hairdressing, as well as trauma counselling for any who may benefit from it. It is a Christian centre and they have times of prayer and bible study in the mornings for their students. Their aim is to provide a better future for the students they support.”
“The centre is divided into many small classes each run by a teacher. The students attend the school for 12 months while they learn a vocation, moving up into new classes as they progress in their training. Both of the mums study hairdressing, where they begin learning in beginner classes for 6 months before sitting exams to allow them to move on to the next stage of training. Upon completion they will be fully qualified for the vocation they are working towards.”
“When we spoke to the mums they were very happy with the support they had received from the centre. They have appreciated the way they have been welcomed and how they are able to cooperate well with the group. Their method of teaching is to learn from each other and work together and this is something they have found beneficial for their progress. They also appreciate how as well as being taught simply vocational skills the centre also teaches them life skills. The name of the centre means ‘Speak, I’m Listening‘ and during their time there the mums have said that they have seen this in the way that the teachers support them and listen to what they have to say. Before leaving we got a chance to pray for the centre and to bless the work that they are doing.”