Kigali: unemployed Youth eye 2014 US Green Card for better life in USA

{Unemployed persons who participated in the 2014 U.S. Green Card Lottery have told this website that they cannot plan for the year 2014 before knowing the results of the Lottery they participated in.}

Every Year the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV) Program Grants 50,000 visas to people all around the world. All 50,000 Winners are issued a US GREEN CARD authorizing them and their families to live and work in the United States.

Rwandans like other people around the world participate in this Lottery Program.

Makuza Mohammed, 26, a resident of Rwezamenyo sector in Kabuguru Cell said that although the year 2013 is ending, he has not planned for 2014 until the time he will know whether he was selected among the winners of 2014 US Green Card.

“I cannot lie to you that I have planned so much for the next year. But this is because I don’t have a job. I am waiting for the results of the 2014 US Green Card then after I will plan for the next year”

Many Rwandans especially unemployed youth believes that through US Green Card Lottery they can have chance of better life abroad than remaining unemployed in their native country.

Murebwayire Zaituna, 30, whose sister is living in USA after winning a Green Card, also said she is waiting for the results of the Lottery and she is optimistic that she will win the US Diversity Visa Lottery.

Mateso John, 37, says that he has so many projects in 2014 but all of them will be thought about after the release of results of the 2014 US Green Card program.

Whether it is unemployment that is pushing youth to wait for the results of the US Lottery, the Government of Rwanda has put in place different initiatives that aim to improve living conditions among youth. These include Hanga Umurimo Program, Entrepreneurship programs and investing in many other projects that can create more jobs among youth.

Rwanda planned, through the second economic development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS II), to provide economic opportunities to young people through skills development programs and investment in ICT.

While university enrolment numbers are increasing, not everyone can and should go to university. The government introduced Integrated Polytechnics Regional Centres (IPRCs) and Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVETs) to increase Rwanda’s technical and vocational capacity as well as providing young people competitive labour market skills that meet growing demand.