Rwanda women employed as motorbike taxi drivers

• Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, is training 120 women to operate electric-powered motorbike taxis.
• The initiative aims to enhance the environment and challenge people’s perceptions about women.
• It is aimed at employing poor women who are given the motorbikes for free.

In Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, a project is being started that will hire women to operate electric-powered motorbike taxis The industry is currently dominated by male drivers.

The first group of 120 women has just completed a three-month training program on how to ride and maintain the new bikes. The initiative aims to enhance the environment while also challenging people’s perceptions about women.

The women’s trainer, Ornella Uwobasa, says they aim to “alter the attitude” by demonstrating that women can perform the job.

Read More: Nigeria’s largest city enforces ban on motorbike taxis

“We want to see women on the roads, and everyone to know that women can work on the road,” she tells the BBC.

The project, jointly owned by the city authorities and a private company, is aimed at employing poor women who are given the motorbikes for free.

The city’s vice-mayor, Martine Urujeni, said the project will cut carbon emissions and reduce unemployment.

Read More: Russia does not stand in way of Ukrainian grain exports

“We focused on vulnerable women like single mothers – divorced and widows – because we want to improve their lives.”

Around 35,000 motorbike taxis are registered in Kigali but most are operated by men.

Rwanda encourages the use of electric motor vehicles but their numbers are still low, with only 150 registered so far this year.

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com