From 24^th to 26^th June 2020, IPRC KITABI conducted a 3-day campaign against Covid-19 in all cells that compose Kitabi sector to provide face masks and public lectures to the people of Kitabi in prevention and fight against the pandemic.

The observation shows that IPRC KITABI is unique among other higher learning institutions in Rwanda referring to its programs. This proves that the college still needs to raise, communicate and market its image and that uniqueness through media, its audience, the community outreach programs, fundraisings, giving back, public lectures.

It is in this context that during this difficult period of COVID-19 pandemic, the college seized this opportunity, organized and conducted a campaign through a community outreach program on preventing and fighting against the spread of COVID-19 in Kitabi sector. Also, the neighboring community needed to know more about IPRC KITABI as it was still calling it the former name of KCCEM. The Kitabi community was engaged in some of the college’s activities like programs offered, short courses and people were remembered the benefits of the college’s neighborhood to them and were called up to grab that opportunity.

This community outreach program was conducted in all cells of KITABI sector for 3 days. During this activity, the college provided 500 face masks and engaged the Kitabi community to help one another with the measures taken against Covid-19 through public lecturing. The college seized this opportunity to remind Kitabi community to buy mutuelle de santé on time.

IPRC KITABI vehicle was moving in all main roads and feeder roads that connect all cells of Kitabi sector. The vehicle was equipped with sound system playing audio message and songs accompanied by DJ messages through micro phones disseminating the fighting against the spread of COVID-19. Those Messages includes prevention measures, COVID19 symptoms and the importance of buying mituelle de santé on time.

Day one: The first day of the campaign, IPRC KITABI branded vehicle moved around Kagano cell from Mushabarara center to Kitabi business center. After the car moved around the cell, we stopped at Kitabi center and hang IPRC Kitabi banners, one banner was informing the public about the college’s academic programs while the other one was informing the public on prevention measures to fight the spread of COVID 19 and its symptoms. At Kitabi center, campaign facilitators had a talk with the public on what they know about IPRC KITABI, how are they giving a hand in fighting against the spread of COVID 19 in their households. IPRC KITABI Public Relations and Communication Officer and Planning Officer asked a lot of questions to people on the site about their participation in fighting against the spread of COVID19, what they know about IPRC KITABI and if they have bought mituelle de santé on time. Those who successfully answered questions and others who were randomly selected were given IPRC KITABI branded face masks.

During this event, the director of Academics, Mr. NIYONZIMA Laurent delivered his remarks to officiate the campaign. “The name KCCEM is no longer as the college is now called integrated Polytechnic Region College of KITABI (IPRC KITABI).” Laurent kept explaining all academic programs that the college provides. He also encouraged the nearby community to be the first to benefit from all programs provided by IPRC KITABI.

Pointing to the fight against COVID19 pandemic, Mr. Laurent emphasized on the printing out of all prevention measures that were set by the Ministry of Health to fight against the spread of COVID 19 such as hand washing, social distancing, and wearing face masks accordingly and avoiding all unnecessary movements. In conclusion, he reminded the participants to buy mutuelle de santé on time in order to be able to afford medical treatments just in case of illness.

The Kitabi’s Civil Status Officer, Mr. KAYIRU Mike delivered a speech on behalf of the Sector authority encouraging Kitabi residents to strengthen all prevention measures to fight against the spread of              COVID-19. This leader winded up his remarks by thanking IPRC KITABI management for this campaign and ensured a good collaboration in the future.

                                                 Mr.Laurent NIYONZIMA speaking to the Kitabi community/Photo by Jimmy

Day Two: On its second day, the campaign started from Mushabarara, we stopped there for 1 hour. The sound system (speakers) was disseminating audio messages to fight against the spread of COVID 19. Campaign facilitators gathered mushabarara residents informing them that KCCEM has changed and became IPRC KITABI and how community around the college should utilize this opportunity to benefit from services provided by the college, how they should create businesses to earn money from students and employees of IPRC KITABI. People were given time to explain how they are contributing to preventing and fighting against COVID 19. During this gathering, campaign facilitator distributed IPRC KITABI branded masks to Mushabarara residents.

After leaving mushabarara, we continued to disseminate messages through speakers along Kitabi center towards Mujuga and Mukungu cell. Arriving there, IPRC KITABI vehicle moved around business center of Mujuga and Mukungu cell playing songs and messages promoting prevention measures against COVID19. Residents from those two cells expressed their views on how to fight COVID19 pandemic.

Corporate Services Division Manager, Mr. Richard KAMPAYANA explained to the residents of Mukungu and Mujuga cells all about IPRC KITABI and its programs. He did encourage them to send their children in TVET education and called them up to benefit from programs provided by the college. He also reminded them to buy mitulle de santé on time to ensure their health is secured. He finally distributed masks to the residents and asked them to apply all the prevention measures to fight the COVID16 pandemic.

Day Three: The last day of the campaign, the campaign team moved again from Mushabarara center to Uwingugu and Shaba cell, where campaign facilitators shared a talk with the public on their contribution to fight against COVID-19. In these two cells, personal hygiene and cleanliness were very critical among residents. Apart from all messages given to them on fighting against COVID 19, IPRC KITABI Public Relations and communication Officer together with Planning Officer highlighted the importance of cleanliness and hygiene on human wellbeing, they encouraged residents to wash their body, clothes and clean their houses. They reminded them that cleanliness and hygiene is one of the prevention measures against COVID 19.

Residents were asked some challenging questions like what they know about IPRC KITABI, what kind of academic programs are provided by IPRC KITABI, what are the prevention measures to prevent and fight against the spread of COVID 19, the symptoms of COVID19. Residents who answered well the question, were given IPRC KITABI branded masks.

         IPRC KITABI Human resource Officer Mrs. Alphonsine UWIMPAYE delivering her message/Photo by Jimmy

During mask distribution, Human Resource Officer reminded the Uwingugu residents to strengthen their personal hygiene and cleanliness in their homes everyday as it would help them to fight the spread of COVID19, she advised them to buy mituelle de santé on time and implement other regulations recommended by the authority as their contribution to the government.

After leaving from Uwingugu and Shaba, we came back to Kitabi center and IPRC KITABI vehicle moved around the center disseminating messages of prevention measures to fight the spread of        COVID 19. Messages were delivered in audio songs, plays and DJ entertainment.

The Vehicle stopped and campaign facilitators hung IPRC KITABI banners at the site. Kitabi residents who gathered at the site were advised to stand by adopting social distancing. People who were around, were again explained by IPRC KITABI campaign team all about IPRC KITABI, its academic programs, offered short courses and how they should benefit from the college. Therefore, residents were encouraged to join and send their children to come and benefit from all those opportunities. Public Relations and Communication Officer encouraged Kitabi residents to innovatively increase more businesses such as houses to rent, grocery shops, hair salons, etc. that will enable them to earn more money from IPRC KITABI staff and students. During this gathering, 130 IPRC KITABI branded masks were distributed to Kitabi residents.

For Her campaign closing remarks, Human Resource officer, emphasized on complying with regulations recommended by our authority including the prevention measures to fight the spread of COVID19, buy mituelle de santé on time and others. She concluded reminding Kitabi residents that IPRC KITABI has been established for them, therefore, they should seize the opportunity and benefit from its services.

This 3 days’ campaign event to fight the spread of COVID 19 was well conducted. In fact, this it was approved to be very effective where residents enthusiastically participated even though it was not easy to manage the crowds who could hardly adopt social distancing. Authorities in all 5 cells in which we conducted our campaign, have proposed more such community outreach programs to continue as they will strengthen the relationship of the college and its surrounding community.

Corporate Services Division Manager at IPRC KITABI giving a well packed mask to a resident of Shaba cell/Photo by Jimmy

                                                                  A look of the provided mask/ Photo by Jimmy