Pink Mango, a garment manufacturing company based in Masoro, Kigali City, has employed 500 young people after completing a two-month training program in garment production. The program was implemented in partnership with the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), which awarded the graduates competency certificates.
The graduation ceremony took place on January 16, 2026, at the company’s premises.
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Practical Training Builds Job-Ready Skills
At the start of the program, the trainees had no experience in garment production. However, through hands-on training, they learned how to make clothes from raw fabric to finished products ready for the market.
As a result, all participants gained practical skills that match industry needs.
Company Prioritizes Immediate Employment
Speaking at the event, Pink Mango’s Employee Welfare Manager, Gilberte Louviaux, said the company chose to employ all trainees so they could apply their skills right away.
“Many people complete training but fail to find jobs. For this reason, we decided to employ all of them,” she said. “We believe skills development improves lives. In turn, when people grow, the country also grows.”
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Moreover, she explained that the initiative supports Rwanda’s goal of promoting technical and vocational skills.
Beneficiaries Welcome New Opportunities
Many of the trainees said the program changed their lives because they were unemployed before joining.
One beneficiary, Nayituriki Joselyne, said the opportunity gave her hope.
“I finished lower secondary school but had no job. Now I have skills and employment. In the future, I want to open my own tailoring workshop,” she said.
Similarly, Niyonzima Egide said he joined the program without any tailoring knowledge. Today, he can confidently sew upper garments after a long period of unemployment.
RTB Applauds Skills-Based Job Creation
RTB’s Director for Skills Development Programs, Uwimana Eugène, praised Pink Mango for supporting youth employment through training.
“What makes this initiative special is that Pink Mango approached RTB with a clear plan to train and employ youth,” he said. “Strong partnerships like this are key to reducing unemployment.”
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He added that vocational skills offer faster access to jobs. Therefore, many secondary school and university graduates are now choosing technical training.
Since 2017, RTB reports that its short-term training-to-employment program has helped over 70,000 people secure newly created jobs.
Pink Mango specializes in garment manufacturing, mainly winter coats. About 90 percent of its products are exported to Europe. Currently, the company employs more than 1,000 workers, most of whom are women.
