Caritas Rwanda, with a financial support from the European Union through World Vision Rwanda, has officially launched the Dukore Twigire Project in Karongi District. The launch event brought together district officials, partners, and other key stakeholders at Centre d’Accueil Sainte Marie Karongi on October 15, 2025, followed by a community launch at the Kiziba Refugee Camp on October 16, 2025.
The Dukore Twigire Project (2025–2028) aims to strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of forcibly displaced populations (FDPs) and their host communities in Karongi District. The project will directly support 598 households, including 419 refugee households and 179 of host community members, with a particular focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The Karongi stakeholders’ meeting held on 15th October 2025, provided a platform for local authorities, partners, and community leaders to discuss project goals, strategies, collaboration frameworks, and expected impact.
In his opening remarks, Father Emmanuel Bamporineza, Deputy Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, said that this meeting was a time to exchange ideas and continue collaboration so that the Dukore Twigire project will improve in a sustainable way the lives of vulnerable people. “We think that by collaborating, we can transform families’ lives, boost their self-esteem, and assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient,” he added. 
Following the presentation of the objectives and activities of the Dukore Twigire project, done by Jerome Sebaganwa, project manager, the ceremony participants asked a lot of questions. One of them sought clarity on whether the consumption support that eligible families would get will be included in the 1,000,000 Rwf cash grants. They were told that the cash grant does not include consumption support, which will be given for 6 months.
The participants also enquired whether project participants would be able to select their own vocational training programs and were informed that they indeed could make those choices themselves. Discussions also evolved about teaching integrity to beneficiaries, where project participants will be taught positive values during the Hinduka Wigire training so that their lives can change in a holistic manner.
Speaking on behalf of the Karongi District Mayor, Innocent Bihira expressed gratitude to all those involved in the event and promised the District’s support for the project implementation. In addition, he mentioned the anticipated impact of the Dukore Twigire project in the following words: “The three years will yield good results that will help our district to move from the list of poor districts to the developed ones.”
Funded by the European Union, the project is implemented under World Vision Rwanda’s consortium and executed by Caritas Rwanda in the Kiziba Refugee Camp and its host community. It seeks to empower participants through three key outcomes:
- Improved, diversified, and sustainable livelihoods, by providing skills training, productive assets, and support to start or expand businesses.
- Improved social protection, cohesion, and positive behaviour change, by fostering inclusion, protection, and community resilience among refugees and host communities.
- Enhanced financial inclusion, through the creation of saving groups and improved access to financial services and market information.
By promoting market-led skills, entrepreneurship, and financial management, the Dukore Twigire Project will contribute to the broader efforts of building climate-resilient communities and reducing dependency on humanitarian aid. Participants will receive continuous coaching and mentorship to strengthen their capacity for self-reliance and economic sustainability.
On October 16, 2025, Today, Caritas Rwanda held an engagement meeting to introduce the Dukore Twigire Project, with refugee committee members, local leaders from the 3 cells surrounding the camp, quartier leaders, faith representatives, and selected volunteers.
