In collaboration with Burera District, on July 30, 2024, the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose Program welcomed a delegation from the District Plan to Eliminate Malnutrition secretariat and USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose nutrition teams from nine districts. This visit aimed to facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas and best practices in preventing stunting and promoting inclusive nurturing care, as implemented by the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose program in Burera District.
The team visited the Rugarama Nutrition Center in Rugarama Sector and benefited from a presentation on the Continuous Quality Improvement Project, through which children affected by malnutrition are rehabilitated in close collaboration with the community, the Sector Plan to Eliminate Malnutrition and Child Development (SPEM-CD), and partners including USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose. The Nutrition Rehabilitation Fund (Ikigega cyo Kondora umwana) operating at the SPEM-CD level plays a crucial role in providing financial support for essential food commodities.
The team visiting the Rugarama Nutritional Center, participants are following a presentation of the Continuous Quality Improvement Project.
The guests also visited Kabindi Village in Gahunga sector, highlighting the importance of feeding children a nutrient-dense diet within Home-Based Early Childhood Development (ECD) facility, led by community health workers and parents lumiere. All 30/30 members of the village nutrition school have eggs laying chicken, which contributes to ensuring that young children consume plenty of animal source proteins through a well-balancedmeals, crucial for their growth, development, and overall well-being.
The USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose program implements the village’s Nutrition School (VNS) approach in Kabindi Village within the Nutrition Rehabilitation Fund, aiming to provide such diets at Growth Monitoring Promotion (GMP), VNS, ECD, and Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, demonstrating effective strategies for supporting early childhood nutrition and development.
Visitors interacting with parents about inclusive Nurturing Care services and their contributions and commitments to sustaining these services at Gatovu Nurturing Care Hub.
At Gatovu Nurturing Care Hub, the visitors interacted with parents about inclusive Nurturing Care services and their contributions and commitments to sustaining these services.
On July 29, 2024, staff members from Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Butare convened to discuss ways to enhance the visibility of Caritas, develop fundraising strategies for Charity Month, evaluate the progress of the Caritas Rwanda 2023 General Assembly (Social Welfare Department), and review the activities scheduled for January-June 2024.
During the discussion on enhancing Caritas’ visibility, participants reached a consensus that the staff at Caritas Butare will be responsible for composing articles highlighting the various activities of its departments, as well as other charitable endeavours within the Catholic Church aimed at assisting the less fortunate.
Father Boniface Kamulegeya, the Director of Caritas Butare and chair of the meeting emphasized the importance of training the staff to create high-quality reports that could serve as the basis for these articles. He urged the Caritas Butare team to provide comprehensive reports accompanied by photographs to ensure the effectiveness of their communication efforts.
During the discussion on enhancing Caritas’ visibility, participants reached a consensus that the staff at Caritas Butare will be responsible for composing articles highlighting the various activities of its departments, as well as other charitable endeavours within the Catholic Church aimed at assisting the less fortunate.
Father Boniface Kamulegeya, the Director of Caritas Butare and chair of the meeting, emphasized the importance of training the staff to create high-quality reports that could serve as the basis for these articles. He urged the Caritas Butare team to provide comprehensive reports accompanied by photographs to ensure the effectiveness of their communication efforts.
Regarding the celebration of Caritas Day and the Day of the Poor, participants noted that these days are celebrated properly.
This meeting also discussed the field visits made by Caritas Butare to the parish Caritas to re-energize their committees. Such visits will take place twice a year and will help increase the productivity of the month of Charity and Mercy. Currently, Caritas Butare has already visited 21 parishes Caritas out of 26, and Christians have reported that the harvest is good in February rather than August as it used to be.
As part of strengthening the animation for integral human development with a focus on young people, Caritas Butare provided financial support to some poor people to enable them to create small income-generating activities and helped them form savings and internal credit groups. Among the 48 people who received financial support, 20 have flourishing activities. The beneficiaries are also sensitized to behavioural change, to come out of extreme poverty. Each received a cash grant of between 26,000 Frw and 20,000 Frw.
Regarding the activities planned for January-June 2024, Caritas Butare staff said that the Caritas animation in schools has not been carried out, but it will be conducted when the children go back to school.
Concerning the activities that will be part of Caritas Rwanda’s strategic plan for 2025-2030, the participants concluded that they will be discussed at the meeting that will bring them together on 12th and 13th August 2024 at the national level.
After the meeting, the joint team of two Caritas visited the Home Saint Raphaël located in the Gisagara District, which cares for the elderly and people with disability.
On 25th July 2024, the staff of Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Ruhengeri met to exchange ideas on promoting Caritas’ visibility. The meeting also included an evaluation of the progress made in implementing the recommendations from the Caritas Rwanda 2023 General Assembly, specifically those related to the Department of Social Welfare. Additionally, the staff reviewed the activities scheduled for January- June 2024.
This meeting also aimed at brainstorming on the activities that will be included in the Caritas Rwanda strategic plan for 2025-2030.
After the prayer led by Father Narcisse Ngirimana, the director of Caritas Ruhengeri, there was a presentation about Caritas Ruhengeri’s activities carried out through its 4 departments namely: Administration and Finance, Social Welfare, Health and Development.
Speaking on behalf of Caritas Rwanda Secretary General, Sister Gaudiose Nyiraneza, the acting Director of the Social Welfare Department at Caritas Rwanda, commended Caritas Ruhengeri for their outstanding performance in fundraising during the Month of Charity (2023) and for consistently submitting reports within the agreed-upon deadlines.In addition, Caritas Ruhengeri was praised for its contributions to radio programs and articles published in Caritas Contact and Radio Maria Rwanda. Thus, participants took this opportunity to discuss the best way to write an article, for all Caritas Ruhengeri departments to write in the future. These articles will be published in Kinyamateka and Caritas Contact.
The Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Ruhengeri team during the collaborative meeting, 07/25/2024.
To increase the productivity of the 2024 Charity Month, participants deemed it necessary to strengthen animation everywhere.
The meeting also discussed the point concerning the celebration of Caritas Day and the Day of the Poor, where it was noted that these days are celebrated properly in the Ruhengeri Diocese area.
Participants also discussed the implementation of one of the 2023 Caritas Rwanda General Assembly recommendations, regarding strengthening the support for integral human development with emphasis on young people. In this context, Caritas Ruhengeri staff highlighted their ongoing efforts to conduct educational activities in schools as part of this initiative.
Concerning the activities planned for January-May 2024, everything has been done, except the learning visits between parishes’ Caritas. Caritas Ruhengeri intends to conduct these visits in the near future.
Regarding the activities to be part of the Caritas Rwanda strategic plan 2025-2030, participants agreed that they will be discussed during the meeting scheduled on 12th and 13th July 2024.
Participants expressed concerns about tendency for some beneficiaries who rely heavily on continued support without taking ownership of their progress. As a result, participants concluded that there is a need to promote self-reliance and independence. It was agreed during the meeting that raising awareness about the need for behavior change is crucial in addressing this issue effectively.
In his closing remarks, Father Narcisse Ngirimana, Director of Caritas Ruhengeri, recalled that in the past, a poor person was a person who did not have food, clothes, etc. Today, there are also the poor who cannot be recognized at first sight, who have other problems that overwhelm them, educated young people with prolonged unemployment and other problems that are not immediately noticeable. Father Narcisse added that this requires discernment so that a person is assisted for what she/he needs, so that the body and soul are healthy.
Joint visit to Centre Saint Vincent Ruhengeri, which cares for orphaned disabled children.
After the meeting, the team visited the Centre Saint Vincent Ruhengeri, which cares for orphaned disabled children.
After three years of implementation, The PRM/PAC Project that was implemented by Caritas Rwanda since August 2021 under coordination of World Vision Rwanda coordination was closed out on 23rd July 2024 in Nyabiheke Refugee Camp.
The PRM/PAC project focused on four main pillars: social protection, livelihoods, financial inclusion, and social inclusion. It aimed to assist 800 households, comprising 550 households from the Nyabiheke Refugee Camp and 250 from the host community by utilizing the graduation approach.
As achievements, the PRM/PAC Project has established 27 saving groups with 768 participants. Out of the 800 targeted households, 768 were trained and received cash grants, while 47 young individuals were supported in the TVET Program, with 95% of them successfully implementing their income-generating activities. 65 Households including 25 refugees and 40 Rwandans received consumption fee.
From April 2023 to March 2024, the 27 saving groups shared 97,193,690 Rwf including 11,386,984 Rwf of interest. Every SILC Group has been linked with the financial institution for bank account opening.
One of the PRM/PAC project participants, Espérance Ahadi, testified that she received training and a cash grant of Frw 800,000, which allowed her to open a shop. Currently, she has 3,500,000 Frw in capital. “At the times, we started the saving groups, we used to save 200 Frw on weekly basis, but now we save from 6,000 up to Frw10,000 Frw”, she said.
After receiving training and a cash grant of Frw 800,000, Espérance opened a shop. Currently, she has 3,500,000 Frw in capital.
Another project participant, Jean De Dieu Habarukize who’s running an agricultural project, said that he made 4,000,000 Frw from the harvest of his Cayenne planted. Later he also grew vegetables including cucumbers and green beans. Jean De Dieu says that the support he received has changed his life: “I have now built a beautiful house, a suitable house for a PAC partner”, he added.
Various speeches of the guests returned to the graduation approach utilized by the PRM/PAC project, reminding the participants that the project goal was to help them becoming self-reliant and encouraged them to continue in this way and they are asked to continue in this way by working together in saving groups.
Addressing the participants, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, Father Oscar Kagimbura, thanked the various partners who contributed to the implementation of the PRM/PAC Project. In addition, Father Oscar explained to the participants that Caritas meand “love” and that even though this project is over, Caritas will remain, because it is operational even at the basic ecclesial community level.
Father Oscar Kagimbura, Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, encouraged the PRM/PAC project participants to form cooperatives.
Additionally, the Caritas Rwanda Secretary General encouraged participants in similar income-generating activities to form cooperatives and collaborate with financial institutions. “From district authorities to village level, representatives of security organs, please, be close to these participants, help them join cooperatives”, he urged everyone, emphasizing the need of keeping an eye on the achievements.
Nzayisenga Gilbert, who represented the Mayor of Gatsibo District, thanked the project participants who started providing jobs and assured them that the local government would keep an eye on their progress to ensure they don’t run into deficits, particularly since they have a list of individuals who received financial grants.
Nzayisenga Gilbert, who represented the Mayor of Gatsibo District in the ceremony.
By mutual agreement, Caritas Rwanda and World Vision Rwanda have given 27 project volunteers the bicycles they used to facilitate their daily work. At the end of the event, participants visited exhibition stands and engaged with participants.
A team from Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Byumba staff members held a collaborative meeting to strategize on fundraising initiatives for Charity Month, the implementation of recommendations stemming from the 2023 Caritas Rwanda General Assembly, evaluation of Caritas Rwanda’s strategic plan 2020-2024, and to begin the process of developing a new strategic plan for 2025-2030.
In an effort to enhance Caritas’ visibility, it was agreed that Caritas Byumba will regularly write articles to be published in Caritas Rwanda’s annual magazine “CaritasContact” and in Kinyamateka (both online and in printed). Additionally, Caritas Byumba is actively engaged in programs on Radio Maria Rwanda, like other diocesan Caritas.
Still within the framework of Caritas’ visibility, this meeting returned to the recommendation of the General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda concerning the celebration of the Caritas Day and the Internation Day of the Poor where it was noted that many parishes celebrate these days on the same day due to lack of means. Both parties recalled that Caritas Day serves to acknowledge the dedication of volunteers and inspire young individuals to embrace the Caritas Spirit by engaging in voluntary work. On the other hand, the Day of the Poor, centers on 3 main activities namely: the celebration of mass with the poor, sharing meals with them and providing them with gifts, all in order to restore their dignity.
Caritas Byumba staff expressed their support for the recommendation to enhance assistance for integral human development, particularly focusing on young individuals. They noted that while Caritas is active in schools and universities, not all of them have established committees. In response, Caritas Byumba is currently facilitating the connection of volunteers with these educational institutions to conduct awareness campaigns on the values and mission of Caritas.
To successfully achieve the desired results for the Month of Charity, it was decided to conduct awareness-raising broadcasts on Radio Maria Rwanda, Pacis TV, and various other communication channels.
Regarding the mid-term evaluation of the planned activities for 2024 in the Department of Social Welfare, the staff at Caritas Byumba have indicated that they are currently in the process of collecting all the necessary reports to assess the progress made thus far. A meeting has been scheduled for August 12th and 13th, 2024, to review the implementation of the activities planned for January to June 2024.
Regarding the upcoming strategic plan for Caritas Rwanda 2025-2030, participants in the meeting suggested that it should align with the Government of Rwanda’s plan, as Christians are also citizens of the country. They emphasized the importance of a concise and easily understandable reporting framework for this plan.
Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Byumba staff paid a visit to the Home Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus, a center that cares for vulnerable and disabled elderly people.
After the meeting, the team from Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Byumba paid a visit to the Home Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus. a center that cares for vulnerable and disabled elderly people. During the visit, the residents of the center shared heartfelt testimonials, expressing their gratitude to the Caritas representatives for bringing messages of love and comfort. They conveyed that they have found love and compassion within the center, thanks to the dedicated care provided by the sisters of the Abizeramariya congregation.
Starting by 9th July 2024, Caritas Rwanda organized a 2-day workshop between its Development Department and the Development Coordinators from 10 diocesan Caritas. This workshop aims to evaluate the accomplishments made from January to June 2024, while also reflecting on the Caritas Rwanda strategic plan for 2020-2024.
In his opening remarks, Prosper Sebagenzi, the Programmes’ Director at Caritas Rwanda urged the development coordinators to redouble their efforts to assist the impoverished individuals around us to lift themselves out of poverty.
Prosper Sebagenzi emphasized that Caritas Rwanda’s new strategic plan will span a period of six years, from 2025 to 2030, aligning with the strategic plan of Caritas Internationalis. “This alignment will enable us to work in harmony with the global Caritas network towards achieving our shared goals”, he said.
Prosper Sebagenzi, the Director of Programmes of Caritas Rwanda, inaugurated the workshop of the coordinators of the Development Department.
The workshop was concluded by Father Oscar Kagimbura, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda. He revisited the theme of the Synod, “Walking Together”, urging all participants to strengthen the existing collaboration to ensure the dignity of the poor and vulnerable is respected. Just as the Church embodies this commitment, the Development department at both Caritas Rwanda and diocesan levels should also embrace this ethos of collaboration.
The Secretary General emphasized the importance of inclusivity, urging participants to ensure that no one is left behind or neglected. This would contradict Caritas’s mission of restoring dignity to those whose vulnerabilities have stripped it away. In addition, he called on Development department coordinators to focus on empowering the poor and vulnerable, with a clear goal of helping them become self-reliant rather than dependent on aid. Dignity entails taking responsibility for one’s own life.
Furthermore, the Development department should not only assist those facing adversity but also work towards addressing the root causes of vulnerability, he added.
Concerning the Caritas Rwanda Strategic plan 2020–2024 and the activities that were planned from January to June 2024, all were implemented even if it is not on the same level as many of the activities rely on external funds. The participants proposed following new interventions:
Strengthen the Entrepreneurship Skills of Youth to Make Them Job Creators;
Promote Youth Effective Participation in Gainful Agriculture;
Promote Vocational Training, Internship, and Apprenticeship Among Youth;
Contribute to the Electrification in Rural Areas Through Off-Grid Solutions and Building or Rehabilitating Water Channels.
This workshop also was an occasion of introducing the participant coordinators to Data Protection, Gender Equality, and Social Inclusion. They learned how to effectively use and protect beneficiary data, while also ensuring inclusivity and addressing gender-specific needs in all interventions.
The Tubeho Neza Aheza project, which aims to promote a decent life and equality in a healthy environment in Rwanda, was officially launched on July 5, 2024, by Pascasie Umuhoza, the Vice Mayor of Karongi District responsible for Social Affairs.
This project is funded by Caritas Slovenia and the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be implemented by Caritas Nyundo/Kibuye in coordination with Caritas Rwanda. The Tubeho Neza Aheza project aims to tackle challenges related to access to natural and financial resources and reduce gender inequality and gender-based violence (GBV), with a focus on women and girls in 1,595 impoverished households from the Rugabano, Gashari, Rwankuba, and Mutuntu sectors.
The event commenced with a brief prayer led by Father Elie Hatangimbabazi, the Director of Caritas Nyundo/Kibuye, who also delivered welcoming remarks. Following the prayer, a presentation was given on the new project. The presentation outlined key activities that will be implemented across six main results, including:
Enhancing sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices to increase the production of nutrient-rich food for the most vulnerable individuals;
Raising awareness on environmental protection and providing better access to equipment and materials that promote the sustainable use of natural resources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
Efficiently utilizing and monitoring available water resources, improving drinking water supply, sanitation, hygiene and field irrigation;
Enhancing the capacities and skills of vulnerable individuals and authorities to monitor and utilize natural resources effectively for income-generation;
Providing vulnerable adults and young people, particularly women and girls, with improved access to financial resources to contribute to the family budget;
Enhancing knowledge and response to gender-based violence (GBV) and other forms of violence, as well as resolving conflicts through non-violent communication.
After the presentation detailing the project’s goal of empowering vulnerable individuals and communities to achieve self-sufficiency, environmental consciousness, and resilience in the face of challenges, a discussion was opened for further clarification and advice.
During this event, Vice Mayor Pascasie Umuhoza expressed her appreciation for the project’s contribution to improving the lives of beneficiaries through its planned activities. She extended her gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Caritas Slovenia, Caritas Rwanda, and Caritas Nyundo Kibuye for their past contributions, which have significantly enhanced the lives of the people in Karongi District. She also pledged their continued collaboration throughout the implementation of this project.
Pascasie Umuhoza, Karongi District Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs inaugurated the Tubeho Neza Aheza Project.
The event was attended by various key figures including the district Agronomist, representatives from four sectors (Rugabano, Gashari, Mutuntu, and Rwankuba), Parish priests from Birambo, Mubuga, Nyange, Mukungu, and Gisovu Parishes, as well as representatives from the Soeurs Fille de la Charité, including one from Slovenia.
Also in attendance were Father Elie Hatangimbabazi, the Director of Caritas Nyundo Kibuye, the Coordinator of the Development Department of Caritas Nyundo Kibuye, and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Officer (Caritas Nyundo-Kibuye) and the Tubeho Neza Aheza Project staff members.
In order to raise awareness about the significance of early HIV diagnosis, adherence to treatment, viral load suppression, and combating stigma and discrimination among adolescents in secondary schools, Caritas Rwanda conducted an awareness campaign calling the Karongi District in school students to do HIV voluntary testing, on 27 and 28 June 2024.
The message was conveyed through football matches, drama, debates and poetry by students from the following schools: Groupe Scolaire Saint Michel (Mubuga Sector), Groupe Scolaire Saint Nicolas (Bwishyura Sector), Groupe Scolaire Saint Joseph Birambo (Gashali Sector) and Ecole secondaire TSS Ngoma (Rugabano Sector).
Caritas Rwanda staff involved in this activity encouraged these young people to get tested for HIV accompanied by their parents for those under 18, in order to know their status, and to take ARV immediately in case the test turns out to be positive. The messages also focused on sexual abstinence, the fight against discrimination and stigma against HIV positive people.
Jeanne Manirareba, one of the Caritas Rwanda’s staff, delivering the day’s message at the Karora football pitch.
During the football matches, the Groupe Scolaire Saint Nicholas emerged victorious with a score of 3-0 against the Groupe Scolaire Saint Michel, at the Karora football pitch on 27/06/2024. On the next day, at the Birambo football pitch, the Groupe Scolaire Saint Joseph Birambo won with a score of 7 against 0 of Ecole Secondaire TSS Ngoma. The winning teams received a trophy and a football ball.
On this occasion, there was a debate presented by the anti-AIDS club of the Group Scolaire Saint Joseph Birambo, with the following theme: “abstinence is the safest way to prevent HIV among young people”. It was the affirmative camp that won.
This campaign is part of the Faith Initiative Project funded by Caritas Internationalis through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It is implemented in four countries namely: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The Catholic Church Health Services National Coordination Meeting was held in Karongi from June 19 to 21, 2024. The primary goal of this meeting was to assess the progress of the Caritas Rwanda Strategic Plan 2020-2024 / Health and develop new health strategies to be included in the upcoming strategic plan for2025-2030.
During the meeting, participants also reviewed the recommendations from the 2023 Caritas Rwanda General Assembly for the Health Department. They discussed the advancements made in various Community-based Health Projects such as Gikuriro Kuri Bose, RBF Malaria, RBF Enabel, ECD, Hepatitis B Birth Dose, and Faith Initiative. Additionally, there were brainstorming sessions on enhancing collaboration between the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Health and the Catholic Church Health Services.
In his opening speech, His Excellency Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, the Bishop of Nyundo Diocese and President of Caritas Rwanda, highlighted the Catholic Church’s commitment to improving the health of Rwandan citizens through its 10 hospitals and 110 health centers. He emphasized the cooperation agreement between the Catholic Church and the Ministry of Health, stating that the Church’s mission in health care is rooted in promoting human health without discrimination.
His Excellency Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, Bishop of Nyundo Diocese and President of Caritas Rwanda, inaugurated the meeting.
Donatien Bajyanama, who represented the Ministry of Health, in his speech, said that this meeting was organized on time because in June 2024, the Government of Rwanda will close the Fourth Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSB4) and the National Strategy for Transformation in its first phase (NST1), and then start the new ones, where unrealized activities will be prioritized.
Mr. Bajyanama also announced to the participants that a bonus would be given to health professionals working in the most remote areas as a way to motivate them. He stated, “The specific amount of these bonuses will soon be disclosed to the remote health centers.” In response to inquiries about old buildings, he assured that efforts would be made to collaborate on their renovation. Additionally, he suggested that the Catholic Church should prioritize renovation projects for old buildings, especially if government funding becomes available.
In the discussion regarding the collaboration between the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral of Healthcare and Catholic Church health services, Father Senani Callixte, the commission secretary, emphasized the importance of providing spiritual and moral support to patients, their families, and medical staff. It was agreed that all hospitals and health centers affiliated with the Catholic Church should have chapels. For those facilities that do not currently have chapels, it was recommended that a designated room be made available for individuals to pray and seek solace. This initiative aims to ensure that individuals in hospitals and health centers have access to spiritual guidance and support during times of need.
On the question of the health commission members in Catholic Church hospitals, it was agreed that the composition should be evenly split between members from the Church and those from outside. However, the current ratio is 40% from the Church and 60% from outside, which does not align with the agreed-upon 50/50 split.
Mr. Donatien Bajyanama suggested that the representative of the hospital owner should no longer be part of the hospital management committee to prevent interference in the higher committee. However, participants requested that this position be reinstated, with the specification that it would be filled by the chaplain.
Mr. Donatien Bajyanama, who represented the Ministry of Health in this meeting.
In terms of family educators, it was decided that individuals at the parish level will be selected based on their interest in the role and will receive training accordingly.
Furthermore, the meeting reviewed the recommendations from the 2023 General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda and noted that they are being implemented as necessary.
The representatives of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) made a presentation on the updates on the current status of receivables and payment terms for Mutuelle de santé invoices by RSSB. The participants showed their interest in this information by asking many questions, which made them understand that payments are delayed because the documents do not meet the required conditions.
The participants during the meeting.
During this conference, there were also presentations on the achievements of different community health projects (Gikuriro Kuri Bose, RBF Malaria, RBF Enabel, ECD, Hepatitis B Birth Dose and Faith Initiative), as well as a short training on data protection.
After reviewing the implementation of the Caritas Rwanda 2020-2024 strategic plan/health, which has been well implemented, the participants reflected on the points that will be the basis of a new Caritas Rwanda 2025-2030 strategic plan.
On June 5, 2024, 48 Savings and Internal Lending Community groups (SILC groups), consisting of 944 participants of the UNHCR-funded Graduation Project, shared Rwf 285,519,800 after a year of saving. The sum includes 225,149,230 Rwf in savings and 60,370,570 Rwf in interest. These SILC groups are now transitioning into cooperatives to become more empowered and self-reliant.
One of the Graduation Project participants, Sosthène Azabe, testified that his family lived in extreme poverty prior to being identified by this project, so that there was a time when he left the camp to seek for work as a mason’s assistant in Bugesera district, where he spent two months and lost 10 kilograms. However, his life took a turn for the better once he received the training and financial support from the Graduation Project. “Thus, I invested the received cash grant of 800,000 Rwf in selling honey, sesame, olive oil, etc. I buy them in Kigali to resell them in the camp. Recently, we closed the savings year, and I found that I had saved up to 600,000 Rwf, which generated a profit of Rwf 185,000”, said Sosthène.
Sosthène Azabe, one of the Graduation Project, invested the received cash grant in selling honey, sesame and Olive oil.
As for Solange Umukiza, one of the project participants from the Mahama camp host community, stated that even though she studied veterinary in high school, she remained jobless for a long time and when she got a job the salary was insufficient to provide for her family. After receiving the cash grant from the Graduation Project, Solange opened a veterinary pharmacy. For this year, she saved 655,500 Rwf and her pharmacy business is flourishing. Together with her other 19 SILC group members have created a maize farming cooperative and have already deposited 510,000 Rwf on their bank account.
During the share out event, the 48 SILC groups’ members were reminded that the graduation model followed by the Graduation Project has a duration of three years, during which the project trains the participant, provides him/her cash grant and continues to advise him/her on income-generating activity as well as SILC groups activities. “After three years you are no longer begging. You don’t ever wonder how you are going to survive? You don’t you say what else are they going to give me? Instead, in three years we look forward for an employer. Who is self-reliant and hires others”, said Samuel Bigirimana, the UNHCR Community Protection Associate in Mahama refugee camp.
Janvière Mukandayisenga, the Vice Mayor of Kirehe District in charge of Social Affairs, appreciated Caritas Rwanda for providing both the financial support and creating the saving groups. “We thank Caritas Rwanda through its Graduation Project. We appreciate you for providing the financial support, but also helping the project participants to create the Saving and Internal Lending Community Groups. That is why they are successful. If people didn’t form saving groups, we wouldn’t celebrate these achievements”, said the Vice Mayor.
Janvière Mukandayisenga, Madam Vice-Mayor of Kirehe District in charge of Social Affairs, thanked Caritas Rwanda for the financial support and the establishment of savings and internal lending community groups for beneficiaries.
In his closing speech, Father Emmanuel Nteziryayo, the Kiyanzi parish priest, asked everyone to work hard to develop economically, but not to forget God. “The two must go hand in hand. Saint Benedict, the patriarch of the monks, used to tell them: pray and work, because God must be put first in everything you do”, stressed Father Emmanuel Nteziryayo.
The SILC group that saved the most is Abadahigwa Saruhembe, who shared 11,64,800 Rwf. This group is made up of Rwandans, members of the host community in Mahama camp. The first SILC group in Mahama camp is Ejoheza Mahama V15, and it shared 8,443,000 Rwf. The group member who saved the most is Etane Jean Bosco (Rwandan), who saved 1,242,250 Rwf within one year and his fruit selling business is also flourishing. The smallest savings for this year was Rwf 180,000.
This is the second year that the SILC groups assisted by the Graduation Project in Mahama camp and its host community have shared their savings. Some are in their second year of saving, while for others it is the first year. The savings made during two years are 395,000,000 Rwf.
Among the 944 members of the 48 groups, there are 669 Burundian and Congolese refugees (regrouped into 36 groups) and 287 Rwandan members of the host community (12 groups).
