Karongi District Launches Census of Unemployed Youth

Karongi, January 13, 2026 - Authorities in Karongi District have begun a comprehensive census of unemployed youth in a bid to reduce joblessness and improve access to employment opportunities.

The announcement was made by the Deputy Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Pascasie Umuhoza, during a ceremony marking the graduation of 20 young people who completed a six-month training program in cooking and meal preparation.

The training, conducted at Bethel Hotel in Rubengera Sector, forms part of the Rwandan government’s broader initiative to equip unemployed youth with practical skills for the labor market.

According to Vice Mayor Umuhoza, the census will record each unemployed person’s educational background to ensure that job opportunities can be matched more effectively to suitable candidates.

“We are enumerating unemployed youth, and this process is ongoing and will be completed soon,” she said. “In about two weeks, we will have a comprehensive list of all unemployed youth in the district.”

The census is being conducted across all 13 sectors of Karongi District.

Sister Marie Louise Niyonsenga, a leader in the Presbyterian Church in Rwanda (EPR), also known as the Servants of Christ, said the training initiative specifically targets youth because of their central role in national development.

“The skills they learned in cooking and meal preparation will help them secure employment or become self-reliant,” she said. “When young people are unemployed, they lose hope and may turn to drugs or prostitution.”

One of the graduates, Liliane Ukwishana from Nyaruguru District, said she enrolled in the program after spending five years studying history, economics, and social sciences without finding employment.

“I have been saving the money they gave us, and I plan to start a restaurant that will create jobs for other young people,” she said. “I will also share the knowledge I have gained here.”

District leaders emphasized that vocational training remains a key strategy for reducing unemployment among school leavers and recent graduates.