The schools name is ETO Gitarama. Rwanda was formally a Belgium colony and the official language is French. ETO is the French abbreviation for 'Ecole Technique Officielle' translated 'Official Technical School'.

Gitarama is the name of the schools Province. The school is a secondary school, with a strong emphasis on technical training. The classes are divided into 5 technical streams of Automotive Mechanics, Electrical, Electronic, Carpentry/Construction and Public Works. The school is only two years old. In 2005 it will have the full compliment of 400 students, in 3 levels; senior 4, 5 & 6, which are equivalent to Years 10, 11 & 12 respectively.

The school was constructed and fitted out from funding from the Rwandan Government and the African Development Bank. Any school or workshop in Australia would be privileged to have the equipment and machines of this school. The problem for the school is that in the two years the school has functioned, the machines have stood idle because no one has been trained in there operation. This school is critical to Rwanda's success in Vision 2020, as the country is in desperate need of young tradesmen and skilled professionals. If this school functions as its initial planners intended, it will be used as a role model for other schools and duplicated across Rwanda.

Click here to visit our Workshops

The futures of ETO Gitarama and the country of Rwanda are inextricably linked. The country has as youthful population which will be Rwanda's greatest asset or greatest misfortune. The counties natural resources are now stretched. As the youth mature, Rwanda will witness a dramatic increase in population. Unemployment has the potential to become Rwanda's greatest issue, which could have dramatic consequences on the country. There are no unemployment benefits or social security pensions in Rwanda. If you have no work or source of income, you go without. It is critical that ETO Gitarama works, graduating students who go onto university and into essential trades. 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he can feed himself for life'.