ISHEMA retreat plants the seeds for 2025-2026
Rwanda 12.05.2025 Project
From the 5th to the 9th of May, the Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture project (ISHEMA) held a retreat in Musanze, a city in Northern Rwanda. The objective of this retreat was to bring together all project stakeholders to align on activities planned for 2025 and 2026, to ensure an efficient and timely implementation process, given that the project’s first student intake is planned for September 2026.
Planting the first seeds of tomorrow’s agriculture
On Tuesday, May 6th, Simon COETZEE ISHEMA's Chief Technical Advisor, facilitated an interactive session aimed at uncovering the hidden value of fruits and vegetables, starting with their seeds. Working in small groups, participants chose from red or yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, passion fruits, or tree tomatoes. They carefully extracted the seeds, washed and sorted them, then laid them out to dry.
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On Wednesday, May 7th, a visit took place at Mutobo Technical Secondary School, one of the project’s selected schools focused on agricultural production and processing. Seed sets collected the previous day were brought and planted together.
This activity represented a symbolic step forward in the school’s agricultural journey, setting the stage for the first student intake planned for September 2026.
We were honoured to have Paul UMUKUZI, Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board, join us for the event. He not only delivered inspiring opening remarks on the vital role of the ISHEMA project in shaping the future of agriculture in Rwanda, but also took part in the sowing activity, as captured in the photo on the left.
‘Business as unusual’ was not just the motto of this retreat, it’s a fundamental principle of the ISHEMA project, which aims to challenge traditional approaches and drive innovative change in agricultural skills development.
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Insights from the participants
During the ISHEMA retreat, and through personal self-assessment, I realised that while I have sufficient theoretical knowledge, I lack practical skills. I feared that ISHEMA’s goal of transforming our schools into Centres of Vocational Excellence might leave less experienced teachers behind. However, I’ve come to understand that the project includes training and experience-sharing to build our capacities. I now look forward to becoming a more practically skilled teacher, capable of starting a business, empowering students to be self-employed, and seeing real improvements in our school, especially in agriculture and modern livestock.
Alfred HAKIZIMANA
Teacher at E.S. T.S.S. Kinazi
The retreat offered valuable insights into the holistic approach to transform the current Technical Secondary Schools into operational and modern Centres of Vocational Excellence tailored to critical value chains. I was impressed by the business-driven production units within the Centres of Vocational Excellence and the sustainability approach through the creation of independent companies (revolving), to maintain the units optimally operational. I was also pleasantly surprised by the social inclusiveness approach via the out-growers’ system which is paramount to the sustainability and theory of change for the foreseen success of the Centres of Vocational Excellence. Last not least, the project will greatly contribute to bridging the gap in our local seed system, as it will embark on locally producing seeds of otherwise outsourced crop seeds such as vegetables and fruits, as well as other high value species and more importantly heirloom seeds.
Daniel NIYIKIZA
Director of Seed inspection and laboratory service, Rwanda Agricultural Board
About the project
The Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture project is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.
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