Partnership agreement SACOLA and terratalent

During a week-long visit to Kigali and Musanze, representatives of the NGO SACOLA and Terratalant signed a declaration of partnership.

photo from left: 1. Emmanuel Hakizimana (DAF), 2. Florence Mukadisa (Member of SACOLA); 3. Josephine Mujawamariya (Treasurer of SACOLA); 4. Pierre Celestin Nsengiyumva (Chairperson); 5. Burkhard Volbracht, Co-Founder terratalent; 6. Patience Dusabimana (Projects team president); 7. Fidele Habarurema (Tender committee president); 8. Damien Nkubana (Data manager).

About SACOLA

SACOLA (Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association), is a community-based non-profit located in Kinigi, Musanze District, Rwanda. The stakeholders behind SACOLA are determined to conserve the local environment, strengthen the community, protect cultural traditions, and develop sustainable infrastructure, for the improved livelihood of the local people. SACOLA was created to contribute to Volcanoes National Park’s sustainable conservation, while improving the socio-economic conditions of the local population.

SACOLA was established in 2004 with 63 founding members, representing the whole population (over 51,000 people) of Kinigi and Nyange sectors in Musanze District, Northern Province of Rwanda.

The NGO is officially recognized with legal personality no. 051/08.11 as of May 26, 2010 and is supported by the Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), the International Gorillas Conservation Program (IGCP), AWF and local government authorities from the surrounding sectors of the former Kinigi District.

Our aim

It always sounds so simple on paper. Germany is a country with a strongly ageing society, a strong economy that constantly needs a large labour force. Africa is a continent with a very young and rapidly growing population that, with ever-improving education, does not yet have enough jobs that are adequate and that also feed people. Sounds like a simple win-win situation. However, as we all know, it is not that easy to create win-win situations. At least Rwanda is a country in Africa that is on a very good path and where there are already many good examples of cooperation between German companies and local initiatives. Much is still centred on Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Musanze is the second largest city in Rwanda, but the links between business and education are not nearly as well developed there. In Musanze, it is primarily the tourism industry that attracts visitors from Germany.

This is where SACOLA and terratalent want to start. There are good universities in Muzsanze, for example SACOLA has close links with Ines Ruhengeri University, which in turn has already carried out projects with German universities. SACOLA is also backed by a hotel on the edge of the national park, which is run by an international organisation. In this respect, projects in the field of tourism or the hotel industry are a goal. SACOLA also focuses a lot on the topic of access to education, one project here is Pearls of Rwanda, building the PEARLS Rwanda Educational Centre a small IT hub for children from disadvantaged families.

In this respect, IT projects are also a focus.

The common goal is to filter tenders and also apply for projects in which consortia from Rwanda and Germany are required