Iwawa rehabilitation, skills development Centre; another home grown solution

Youth that is being rehabilitated at Iwawa Centre

I was both curious and afraid when my Chief Editor told me that I should go to cover a story at the Iwawa Island about the 18^th Commemoration of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. Curious because I have heard hundreds of stories about the famous island, almost known to all Rwandans, at least everyone, like me, has heard about it and I am almost sure that everyone has his own image in his mind whenever you mention the Island.

I was afraid for two reasons: I knew that the Island is located in the middle of Lake Kivu and I personally have traumatic memories from my young age when I narrowly escaped death due to a smaller river I fell in, at my birth place.

The second reasons that I shared with many more people has to do with the island itself: Iwawa island is very famous for its deadly wars during the insurgency (Abacengenzi) in our country for many of my natives to exactly what it refers to, back to 1995 and 1996.Most recently and up to now for people who are well informed- the majority of people thought of it as a prison where street children, bandits, drug colonized youth, undisciplined and danger are deported for correctional education and many will tell you imprisoned.

One of friend even told me two years ago, that Iwawa is Rwanda Guantanamo Bay. But my experience there, what I saw and witnessed, and largely testimonies of young people there proved me and all people that still attach harsh conditions – to be wrong.

Iwawa rehabilitation and skills development or put it this way IRVSDC is increasingly becoming a success story, another home grown to inculcate moral values to these formerly undisciplined youth and more especially to give them skills that will help improve their lives for the rest of their lives, their families and the country and you cannot ignore how the world at large will benefit.

Iwawa Island is located in the heart of Kivu, 25km from the luxurious Kivu Serena Hotel. We embarked in military boat around 8:30 am after our Boat captain Lieutenant Mbaga briefed us about the safety major and after everyone put in the life jacket. We were mainly journalists and government officials and the famous Kizito Mihigo. It took us only 43 minutes in that super fast and new marine boat.

The Island looks beautiful. It has every basic need from accommodation to playgrounds, to health centre, to classrooms all with power.

“I was colonized by drugs, I everyday used to take alcoholic drinks, waragi, smokes. I was much undisciplined and chronically with temper behaviour and always quarrelled with my brother who sheltered me in Kigali”, Says Nsabimana Said who was brought at Iwawa 8 months ago when the traffic police surprised him driving while drunk.

Nsabimana is 26 years old who lived in Gisenyi town. He told us he has now learned good manners and above all better management and construction “Before coming here, I used to get each month around Rwf100, 000 but squandering all that money in futile things, mainly buying drugs and in prostitutions. I was most of the time very dirty and always lapsing in vulgarity.

Now I have completely changed, when I go back, I will exemplary be the role model for others, I have management skills and will be saving and help others to develop that saving culture”.

Nsabimana story is not unique; they are hundreds and hundreds of others. Bizimana testimony as well moving: “If I had not this chance to come here, I would never be able to start my own family, to get my own house, to get married and have a happy family as I hope to do shortly after going back home”.

Darius Bizimana is 31 and was brought from Nyarugenge where he was a street guy at his age since he left his native place Kamonyi district 8 years ago. He told us he has learnt a lot at Iwawa rehabilitation and skills development “Not only I learnt to build house and general construction but I learnt basic literacy how to read, count and write. Couple to disciple and behaviour change, I stand to confirm I am a accomplished man”

These testimonies were confirmed by Charles Kabanda, the president of Parents who have their children at Iwawa. “I have sent my son here 10 months ago as he was highly unmanageable where he was studying at Makerere University.

From what I see, he is now changing and I hope very shortly that he will come back home in a more human face, obedient and ready to continue his studies”. Mr. Kabanda told us that it was his 4^th times to visit this young people and confirmed development about skills.” I have seen those building houses here; I have seen some tailoring the shirts and uniforms, etc”

When we interviewed Mr. Nicolas Niyongana, the Coordinator of the centre, he told us that their curriculum comprises of mental education and psychological support and most of these young people have psychological problems mainly related to drugs using.

He told us as well as they also use entertainment to help them overcome their bad habit. Other components education at Iwawa are civic educations and skills development if 5 areas namely, construction, carpentry, tailoring and farming. The centres also ensure reintegration of these people upon completion of their module.

Currently 2343 young people are enrolled at Iwawa rehabilitation and skills development. They include both people who are illiterate and educated people but both have in common to have been disobedient and unmanageable as drugs takers, streets children and other who needed that kind of education. They are all boys aged between 18 and 35.

Mr. Niyongana told us that following its success story, perceptions has changed that even parents themselves are increasing coming to ask if their children can be enrolled at Iwawa Centre as  confirmed as well by the President of the Association of parents Charles Kabanda. Iwawa Rehabilitation and Skills Development Centre is with no possible doubt, becoming another home grown solution following other example of such strategies that our country has embarked on as Gacaca jurisdictions, Ubudehe, etc.