Presbyterian Mission Agency Mission Yearbook | Presbyterian Mission Agency

Program aims to alleviate unemployment in Rwanda

September 11, 2017

The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda has created a program for youth to get the training to start small businesses. Unemployment is a particularly big challenge among ages 18–26. Sometimes there are 5,000 applicants for one job.

With the support of World Mission’s regional liaison Nancy Collins, and a grant from Presbyterian Women, the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda created a program that is showing strong results called “Best Future from Today.”

The church’s youth coordinator, Epimu Epimaque Munyankindi, took the initial grant from Presbyterian Women to buy equipment to start a small recording studio. Presbyterian church choirs can record their own music and sell CDs. Individuals and groups outside the church have also used the studio for a fee, creating an additional revenue stream.

“The PC(USA) knows that with a good idea, you can go even beyond what you expect,” Munyankindi said. “We are really thankful for them and Presbyterian Women; thanks to them for the funding. It has been like a dream.”

Rwanda youth have been able to start 10 separate projects under the “Best Future from Today” project thanks to the Presbyterian Women grant, including a public relations project known as “Sophia” that started last year.

“If we’re looking at the issue of sustainability and if a project can continue after initial funding,” Collins said, “this one is a really great example of how a project can both continue and expand.”

Video URL: https://vimeo.com/220502248

Kathy Melvin, Director of Mission Communications, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus: Unemployment in Rwanda