Rwanda Outreach Program

Previously known for the genocide that occurred in 1994, Rwanda is now described as an emerging tech hub for Africa. It is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda has a population of over 12.6 million and is the most densely populated mainland African country.

 

Education in Rwanda has undergone considerable changes throughout its recent history and has encountered major disruptions due to periods of conflict. Education was divided by gender, whereby women and men had a different education relevant to their responsibilities in day-to-day life. Women were mostly taught housekeeping, while men were mainly taught how to hunt, rear animals, and fish.

 

Women remain underrepresented in STEM education and occupations in Rwanda. According to the latest education statistics (MINEDUC 2020), 66% of male students and 51% of female students in upper secondary education were enrolled in STEM programs (as a total, across general, technical, and vocational education). In tertiary education, 51% of male students and 32% of female students were enrolled in STEM fields.

 

The statistics show a few young Africans choose to pursue Aviation and STEM-related career fields. This data presents a gap in workforce needs. Regardless of Africa’s talent pool, public and private institutions will have to outsource workers in those fields. Consequently leading to a limited domestic Aviation and STEM workforce on the continent.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT

 

1. Promote the advancement of youth, women, and girls in aviation and space sciences, STEM education awareness, and business entrepreneurship in the field of aviation. We will accomplish this through seminars, school visits, networking events, team-building exercises, and mentorship sessions during the event.
2. Educate youth through communication on aviation careers, by creating a platform for exchange between aviation stakeholders and the next generation of aviation professionals in Africa. The goal is to also align the future demand for skilled workers in the industry.
3. Actively promote gender equality across the continent by advocating for stakeholders to invest more in human capital development – especially girls through innovative methods in Africa to ensure safe and secure aviation for the next generation. Our message of gender equality in the African aviation industry is that each male professional must identify a woman they will inspire, mentor, and empower to promote women’s inclusion in the Aviation industry.

 

OUTCOMES EXPECTED

1. Inspired, Motivated and Empowered next generation of aviation professionals and business leaders, especially girls and women;
2. Provide STEM education awareness with a focus on the aviation and space industry; and
3. Contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry across the African continent.

 

RWANDA, AFRICA 26 to 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 OUTREACH PROGRAM – Target 2000 young learners in and around Kigali, Rwanda.

 

Day 1 and 2: 26 & 27 September

Morning Sessions

08:00 – 12:00

 

School Visit Career Guidance:

Manned Aviation

Drone & STEM Education

Leadership & Soft Skills

Distributions of supplies

 

Afternoon Sessions

12:30 – 15:30

 

Orphanage visits:

STEM & story panel sessions

Drone & ICT demo

Distributions of supplies

 

DAY 3: 28 September

GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY EXHIBITION & EXPO

09:00 – 15:00

Airport visit

The air-traffic control tower visit

Aviation company exhibitions