YADDI and the YTTC

The "Youth Association for Dissemination of Development Information" (YADDI) is a non governmental organisation (NGO) in Butare, the second largest city of Rwanda. YADDI's aim is to bridge the shortfall of education and information in general, which is one of the significant restraints of Rwanda's development. The spectrum of information YADDI covers with its initiative is broad, including AIDS/SIDA prevention as well as education in modern information technology. Since YADDI was founded in 2005 by a group of dedicated Students of the National University in Butare, the association has undertaken a remarkable development and gained an increasing reputation. The President of YADDI, Cleophas Kanamugire, frequently participates in national, regional and international conventions representing the organization, dealing with the topics on youth and education for sustainable development.

With the YTTC (YADDI Technology Training Centre), a flexible, non governmental education institution is being installed, which shall become one of YADDI's most powerfull instruments to fulfill its aims in the future. Predominantly targeting youths and young adults, the YTTC offers vocational and general-education courses mainly, but not exclusively in IT related disciplines. Foreign languages and courses on entrepreneurship will as well be included in the programme as very traditional Rwandan occupational areas like such as braiding, baskets making/weaving, painting, plumbing, wood carving, etc.

The first steps have been undertaken: currently, the YTTC allready provides courses in ICT basics (office applications, etc.). For this purpose, the centre calls a small room with four workstations its own. However, neither a safe and reliable current supply, nor a connection to the internet are available up to now. On this basis, the YTTC will be extended step by step with the assistance of the supporters association operating from Koblenz, Germany.