(ANS – Gatenga) – The Don Bosco Gatenga Centre in Rwanda regularly hosts intensive training programs on photovoltaic solar energy for educators and vocational teachers, aiming to expand the impact of renewable energy in schools and their surrounding communities. These initiatives combine technological innovation, sustainability, and educational commitment to address the region’s energy challenges.
The Don Bosco Gatenga Vocational Training Centre has become a benchmark for technical education, particularly in renewable energy, across the East African region. Using a “training of trainers” model, the center not only teaches technical skills but also develops a network of educators who can replicate their learning in their own countries and educational settings.
These training programs are developed in collaboration with other Salesian Vocational Training Centres in the region, the German NGO Ingenieure ohne Grenzen (Engineers Without Borders), and specialized technical organizations, with support from international organizations such as the Austrian NGO Jugend Eine Welt. The shared goal is to strengthen local capacity and empower young people through vocational training aligned with international standards.
Hands-On Learning with Real-World Impact
The programs combine theoretical instruction with significant practical experience. Teachers are actively involved in installing, testing, and commissioning complete solar systems using technologies recognized as benchmarks in the sector.
The training covers the fundamentals of direct and alternating current systems, sizing of structures for residential and institutional environments, cabling techniques, safety regulations, and hybrid and off-grid configurations. It also includes mounting structures adapted to different environments and remote monitoring systems—essential for ensuring the performance and longevity of installations.
“The goal of these courses is not just to install solar panels but to train educators who can guide and support other young people on the path to sustainable energy,” explains the Salesian coordinator of the programs. “We want every qualified teacher to become an agent of change in their own community.”
Participants apply what they learn directly to educational infrastructure, installing solar systems that power dormitories, laboratories, and classrooms, increasing the energy autonomy of the centers. Solar street lighting is also being implemented in access areas to improve security, and conventional lighting is being replaced with LEDs, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Transforming Teaching and Learning
“Now we not only understand how a solar system works, but we also know how to size, install, and troubleshoot it,” says one participating teacher. “This changes how we teach and opens new opportunities for our students.”
The collaboration between Salesian centers and international technical organizations reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development. Exchanges between European experts and African trainers promote mutual learning and improve the quality of the training offered.
Each edition of these programs strengthens a network of professionals prepared to lead renewable energy projects in their countries, expanding access to clean and affordable energy solutions.
The commitment to solar energy at the Don Bosco Gatenga Centre aligns with an educational vision that addresses current environmental, social, and economic challenges. Training in renewable energy not only enhances youth employability but also promotes a more equitable and sustainable development model.
For its part, Misiones Salesianas, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, continues to support initiatives that integrate quality education, technological innovation, and care for our common home, confident that solar energy can brighten the future of thousands of young people and their communities.
Source: Misiones Salesianas