From 31^st to 4^th October 2022, in support of GIZ Business Scout for Development implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), 18 electrical technicians and trainers include IPRC Karongi staff attended a practical Training of Trainers on Installation of a modern and affordable Lightning Protection System, the model from Germany.

This training, which was facilitated by Uwe Mausgeir, German Master Craftsman in Roofing and Japhet Dufitumukiza, German Master Craftsman in Electrical, was planned to support and qualify TVET Trainers, private companies with their technical staff to be able to install Internal and External Lightning Protection Systems on their own.

Sixbert UWIZEYIMANA, the Rwanda Technical Advisor of GIZ Business Scout for Development told more about the innovation behind this Modern Lightning Protection System. He said, “Until now, Lightning Protection is very expensive for the general population in Rwanda, but it is imperative to ensure their safety in an area with the most lightning strikes like Rwanda, western Province particularly.”

“In contrast, this System of ours brings innovation as an internal and external protection at the same time. It protects things inside and outside the protected house. In addition, the installation is done by using affordable materials that exist in Rwanda market or which can easily be imported by the companies themselves,” clarified Sixbert.

Private Companies representative in this training Mr. Janvier HABYARIMANA mentioned that only few companies in Kigali capital are specialized in the installation of lightning protection while they must import all materials at high costs. Once installed, their system is even limited to only protecting things outside, around the protected house.

Mrs. Dominique INGABIRE, the Principal of IPRC Karongi who officially closed this training acknowledged GIZ and experts for imparting skills to Rwandans. She added, “This training was even excellent platform as it connected our staff with Private Sector Practitioners and Public Institutions related to the programs we offer as a Polytechnic College.”

The Principal urged the beneficiaries to share with others the skills they learned from the training. She also promised to establish a sustainable collaboration with GIZ through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) so that as an institution they can offer such training to the students and personnel from other companies.

Currently, the Installation of Internal and External Lightning Protection System is not practically taught in Rwandan TVET schools, but now it might be integrated in their Electrical Lessons as suggested by the psrticipants.

During this Practical Training, they protected IPRC Karongi Computer Laboratory both internal and external. The training participants were from IPRC Karongi, Private Companies ELECTRICOM Ltd, INTERTECH Ltd, KIGALI POLYTECHNIC Ltd, ANIMAS Ltd, CAPINA CO Ltd and Technical personnel from Rwanda Housing Authority.

The main objectives of this practical training were:

• To offer installation of LPS in single family houses at an affordable price by Involved electrical companies in Rwanda.
• Technical staff in companies have expertise to install the systems in a high standardized quality.
• The TVET sector is involved and prepared for the development of a respective training module/unit which can be included in suitable curricula.
• One house per district (Karongi, Nyamasheke, Rutsiro) is equipped with a modern Lightening Protection System as visual models.
• Selected government institutions and district administrations are aware of different possibilities to avert dangers to the population.