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In a continued effort to reduce the spread of HIV and address violence (GBV) among Rwanda’s most vulnerable youth, Caritas Rwanda, through the Igire-Gimbuka Programme, organised a one-day awareness campaign at the Iwawa Rehabilitation Center located in Rutsiro District on 18th June 2025. This initiative was conducted in partnership with Rutsiro District and Nyundo Diocese.

The campaign aimed to educate young people in Iwawa about HIV and GBV prevention and encourage them to undergo voluntary HIV testing and adhere to treatment if they test positive.

The campaign started with a holy mass where 41 young people were baptized, 5 received their first Eucharist, and other 31 received confirmation.

Messages of the day

Various speakers during this campaign delivered messages of hope, encouraging the youth to behave well even when they will leave the rehabilitation center and to voluntarily test for HIV and immediately adhere to treatment if they test positive.

Father Eugene Niyonzima, leader of the Pallottine Congregation in the Great Lakes Region and Belgium, and representative of COSUMAR (Conférence des Supérieurs Majeurs au Rwanda), comforted the youth in Wawa, reminding them that although people pass through hard situations that generate emotional wounds in their lives, or do bad things that make other people call them bad names, God writes the right things on crooked lines, with a pen called “mercy”. He added that as long as they have a repenting heart, God is ready to forgive and change them in a positive way.

The Coordinator of Iwawa Rehabilitation Center, Dr Jean Damascène Nshimiyimana, thanked the guests for visiting the youth living in Iwawa, bringing them spiritual food and various gifts that will help them live a better life. “I believe that medicine works when mixed together. Religion and evangelism play a major role in correction. We thank you for leaving the 99 sheep and coming to look for the lost one”, he added.

Commenting on the slogan often used at Iwawa “Saul became Paul”, Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, President of Caritas Rwanda and Bishop of Nyundo Diocese, exhorted the youth to avoid behaving like Saul, who used to persecute God’s people, and become like Paul, who became an apostle.

Messages that were posted around the event urged the youth to undergo voluntary HIV testing so that they can know their status and adhere to treatment if they test positive.

During this campaign, Caritas Rwanda, through the Igire-Gimbuka Program, donated soccer equipment to two teams; Congo Nil Parish donated basketballs; and COSUMAR donated clothes and shoes (for the vulnerable youth in Iwawa), Bibles, various books and rosaries (for those who received the sacraments).

Igire-Gimbuka, is a 5-year program (2022-2027) implemented in the districts of Karongi, Nyamasheke, Rubavu and Rutsiro, thanks to funding from the American Government.

To help them cope with stress, from 12^th June 2025, Caritas Rwanda organized a 2-day wellness retreat for Headquarter team at Cenetra Hotel. This program featured self-awareness and peer reflections, group works and relaxation exercises among others, fostering well-being, connection and inner growth.

In his opening remarks, Father Oscar Kagimbura, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, emphasized the importance of holistic health, stating, “A healthy soul dwells in a healthy body, which is precisely why Caritas Rwanda organized this retreat.” He encouraged all participants to engage fully in the activities and to embrace the positive impact of the retreat on their mental health and overall well-being.

Dr. Uwihoreye Chaste, who facilitated the sessions, described mental health as comprising four stages of coping with stress: (i) striving, (ii) managing, (iii) struggling and (iv) crisis. According to Dr. Chaste, the last two stages require professional mental health support, but he reassured participants that with proper care, recovery is often possible (noting that only about 3% of mental health disorders are untreatable).

The retreat didn’t only provide theories; it also emphasized on self-reflection techniques, peer reflexions, group activities and relaxant exercises.

Coping with stress is possible

Coping with stress is possible

After engaging in various exercises (self-reflection, partner share sessions and group activities), Dr. Chaste urged every retreat attendee to practice self-reflection at least twice a day, since it promotes good mental health. He also advised seeking help from a mental health professional before reaching the point of struggling or being in crisis.

While the team members were participating in relaxant activities, their joy was evident. The games focused on facing stress by making quick decisions, while others focused on teamwork or simply playing or dancing. The key lesson was that stress itself isn’t always harmful, the real problem comes when it takes a long time to be handled. To watch the video about relaxing exercises during the wellness retreat, click here.

To manage stress, whether work-related or family-related, it’s important to adopt the following six habits:

• Get eight hours of sleep every day;
• Stay physically active (through exercise or work);
• Be social (belong to a group, family);
• Practice self-reflection;
• Relaxing;
• Plan tasks within your capacity.

The retreat’s teaching methods also relayed on Kinyarwanda proverbs to help participants share and cope with stress without being overwhelmed. Examples included:

• Iyo utazi aho uva, ntumenya iyo ujya (If you don’t know where you’re come from, you don’t know where you’re going);
• Iyo utazi aho ujya, aho ugeze hose ugira ngo ni ho wajyaga (If you don’t know your destination, every place will look like your intended one);
• Agahinda gasangiwe, karatuba (Shared sorrow is lessened, decreases);
• Agahinda kadasangiwe karatumba (Unshared sorrow weighs heavy);
• Ahakomeye ni ho hava amakoma (White sorghum growths in hard soil);
• Agati gatwawe n’isuri, kajyana iteka n’agataka (A plant carried away by erosion, is always accompanied by a piece of soil);
• Iyo uciye ahakomeye, iyo hatagukomerekeje haragukomeza (What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger).

With aim of sharing its mission of assisting vulnerable people and promoting their integral human development, on 28^th May 2025, a team from Caritas Rwanda met with the major seminarians and leaders of the Saint Charles Borromée Nyakibanda Major Seminary.

In her presentation, Sister Gaudiose Nyiraneza, in charge of Animation and Social Actions within Caritas Rwanda’s Social Welfare Department gave an overview of Caritas Rwanda and its efforts to restore human dignity through its three departments: Social Welfare, Health, and Development.

Sister Gaudiose also urged them to get more involved by mentioning the Charity Month (August), when Christians and other good-willed people contribute to support the most vulnerable. She also mentioned the World Day of the Poor, where Caritas directors and other people share meals with the poor, reflecting Pope Francis’s desire when establishing this day: to restore the dignity of the poor.

It was a dynamic session, with post-presentation discussions focusing on helping the most vulnerable build resilience and the challenges associated with reduced external funding.

In his speech, Father Michel Nsengumuremyi, the spiritual leader at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary, praised Caritas Rwanda for organizing such an awareness at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary, to encourage the major seminarians to continue on the right path of assisting the most vulnerable.

The major seminarians of Nyakibanda are already involved in charitable activities

In collaboration with local authorities, the major seminarians carry out charitable works, as explained by Mpayimana Fabien, a brother (fratri) from the Gikongoro Diocese and coordinator of the Catholic Action activities at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary. As he said, they build shelters for vulnerable families through apostolic activities they conduct every Monday afternoon, raise funds to provide school materials to children from poor families, and collect donations to help people in prison.

According to Fabien Mpayimana, a brother (fratri) from the Gikongoro Diocese and coordinator of the Catholic Action activities at the Nyakibanda Major Seminary, the major seminarians collaborate with local authorities to perform charity works. As he stated, they collect money to provide vulnerable children with school materials, gather donations to assist those incarcerated, and construct shelters for families in need through apostolic activities they have every Monday afternoon.

Indeed, the major seminarians participate in community works to build houses for the most deprived; however, as they explain, due to a lack of sufficient resources, they cannot carry out finishing works, such as laying paving. “Our resources are limited. When we are called upon, we help with our own hands, but we have difficulty finding the necessary resources to build the house to the finishing stage. If we had the means to do the finishing, it would be better to offer them a well-finished house,” said Jean Damascène Uwiringiyimana, deacon of the diocese of Nyundo.

While the major seminarians do take part in community works to construct houses for the poorest, they note that they are unable to complete finishing touches like paving due to a lack of resources. “We have limited resources. When called upon, we support with our own hands, yet we struggle to locate the resources needed to complete the house. It would be preferable to provide them with a well-finished home if we had the resources to complete it,” stated Jean Damascène Uwiringiyimana, deacon of the Nyundo diocese.

Thus, the major seminarians invite other corporate bodies and individuals to join their cause of supporting the most vulnerable, as Jesus calls everyone to do: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in; I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me; I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

Caritas Rwanda is currently conducting such campaigns in major and minor seminaries, as well as universities. Awareness-raising on embracing Caritas Spirit is also done through the Catholic Church media. Caritas Rwanda plans to expand these activities and raise awareness by calling everyone to help vulnerable people through various media, by visiting them at their workplaces and other places where many people gather.

Almost 50 delegates from Catholic institutions across Rwanda benefited from a workshop organized by Ethical Artificial Intelligence for Human Development (EAiD) together with Caritas Rwanda at Centre Saint Vincent Pallotti Gikondo, from 13^th to 14^th May 2025. The workshop aimed to equip them with the skills to understand and harness the power of AI, ethically and responsibly.

In his opening remarks, Father Oscar Kagimbura, the Secretary General of Caritas Rwanda, highlighted that AI is an integral part of everyday life, deeply transforming societies, institutions, and even personal lives. He added that in this context, it is imperative that the Church, faithful to its evangelical mission, actively participate in this challenge, providing insights based on Catholic values ​​and contributing to the development of AI at the service of humanity.

“We are living in a pivotal moment, where theological and ethical reflection must be combined with technological innovation to ensure that AI is used for the good of the most vulnerable populations, especially the poor, the sick, refugees, and all those whom the Church strives to serve with love and compassion,” said Father Oscar.

To conclude, Father Oscar Kagimbura emphasized that everyone must always keep in mind a fundamental principle of Catholic ethics: AI must never replace humans. Crucial decisions concerning human life and the dignity of people must always be taken by human beings, enlightened by their conscience and their faith.

The Rome Call for AI Ethic[1]

In an effort to promote an ethical approach to artificial intelligence (AI) by fostering a sense of shared responsibility among international organisations, governments, institutions, and the private sector, the Holy See has elaborated six principles to guide entities  above to develop and use AI with in an ethic. Those principles are the following:

1. Transparency: in principle, AI systems must be explainable.
2. Inclusion: the needs of all human beings must be taken into consideration so that everyone can benefit and all individuals can be offered the best possible conditions to express themselves and develop.
3. Responsibility: those who design and deploy the use of AI must proceed with responsibility and transparency.
4. Impartiality: do not create or act according to biais, thus safeguarding fairness and human dignity.
5. Reliability: AI system must be able to work reliably.
6. Security and privacy: AI systems must work securely and respect the privacy of users.

In six focus groups, participants analysed how each principle applies to the African context, elements of local culture that can enrich or reinterpret it, and critical aspects that need to be modified to make it more relevant. Every group made the recommendations and shared them with others.

This exercise aimed to give the Catholic institutions delegates a better understanding of AI and ethically harness its potential for the benefit of the communities their institutions serve.

The workshop was also an opportunity to learn how some AI tools work, namely ChatGpt (an AI tool designed to engage in conversations, generate text, and perform various tasks based on prompts), perplexity AI (an AI-powered answer engine that provides concise and well-sourced answers to questions, using real-time web search and AI processing), and Akinator (a game that tells you what celebrity character, object or animal you are thinking of by asking you questions).

Organized thanks to Vatican funds, this workshop was facilitated by EAiD, a new global initiative dedicated to implementing artificial intelligence, in an ethical way, with the aim of improving the quality of life of the most vulnerable people in developing countries.

[1] https://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/aboutus/Pages/Rome-Call-for-AI-Ethics.aspx

On March 24, 2025, young people belonging to the Imbaduko y’Iterambere – Murambi Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) group, supported by the Gera Ku Ntego (GKN) project, built a house for the family of Eric Nteziryayo (married with two children) living in Murambi village, Ntanga cell, Mugesera sector, Ngoma district, Eastern Province.

One of the members of the Imbaduko y’Iterambere – Murambi group proposed the idea of providing shelter for him as a Group Service Activity, which they had been trained to do. The rest of the group enthusiastically welcomed the idea. Twelve members, along with five other young individuals from the neighbourhood who were not part of the group, participated in the construction work. Eric’s house had recently been destroyed by natural disasters resulting from torrential rains, causing the roof to blow off and the walls to collapse.

The house measures 4 meters by 5 meters and includes two bedrooms, a living room, and a hallway. It has twelve metal tiles. To build it, these young people purchased no materials other than bamboo and contributed to community work by digging the ground, drawing water, working the mud, placing bamboo on the felled trees, and pouring the mud on top. The total cost of the work was Rwf 78,000.

At the end of this activity, Florence Niyimenya, GKN’s field officer in Mugesera sector, thanked these young people and urged them to continue conducting such charitable activities and forming internal savings and credit groups to reduce the number of young people involved in drugs and other bad behaviors. She emphasized that young people are the fastest-growing force in nation-building.

The Gera Ku Ntego (GKN) Youth Project is a CRS-initiated project aimed at strengthening a sustainable pathway to scaling youth-focused approaches that address needs, opportunities, and priorities in Rwanda. The project is implemented by four Caritas dioceses (Butare, Cyangugu, Byumba, and Nyundo) in close collaboration and coordination with Caritas Rwanda. It builds on existing relationships with key stakeholders capable of achieving large-scale results, including the government, the private sector, and the Church, to strengthen their collective action aimed at improving access to formal finance and entrepreneurship. These are the main obstacles to the creation and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for young people in Rwanda.

In order to help them come out of poverty and become self-reliant, Caritas Rwanda, with the support from UNHCR, through its Graduation Project, supported 50 Sudanese refugees and other asylum seekers from Mahama refugee camp by providing them with various trainings, including SILC methodology, and the project provided them with Rwf 800,000 each, to help them implement their small income-generating projects.

After the training, they formed two SILC groups. Each SILC group is typically structured with around 25 female participants in one group and 25 male participants in another. They meet regularly to contribute to a shared savings pool, which members can borrow from to support their personal or business financial needs.

By the end of March 2025 (4 months after they began saving in their SILC groups), they have saved Rwf 1,448,350 and learnt how to use internal loans. At the moment, Rwf 1,092,200 is the total amount of internal loans.

Testimony from one of the SILC members

Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) play a vital role in fostering economic empowerment and self-sufficiency among refugees and asylum seekers. These groups serve as a gateway to financial inclusion, allowing individuals to save, access small loans, and strengthen their financial resilience.

Ibrahim Altayib Namriyn is member of the Entrepreneur Passages SILC Group, a savings and internal lending community group made up of Sudanese and other minority refugees. This group has played a crucial role in his business expansion. As he says, “Being part of this SILC group is very important for me. Instead of borrowing money from friends, I got a loan of Rwf 60,000 to purchase pesticides. I repaid it with a small interest. Now, I plan to take a larger loan to expand my project”.

In fact, after benefiting from the training on Entrepreneurship and Modern Agriculture and receiving a cash grant of Rwf 800,000 from the Graduation Project; Ibrahim invested in growing vegetables. Since he has installed the irrigation systems in a plot of land he rents Rwf 250,000 per year, he can earn income even during the dry season. He anticipates earning at least Rwf 3,400,000 from his first harvest of cabbage and okra.

 

UBUMWE SILC group testimony

Following a training on SILC methodology facilitated by the ECD Project funded by Plan International Rwanda and implemented by Caritas Rwanda in the Gatsibo, Nyaruguru and Bugesera districts, 30 parents of children enrolled in the Tuganire home-based ECD formed a SILC group (Ubumwe) and invested in poultry farming to feed their children with nutritious meals and develop economically.

In the beginning, the Ubumwe SILC group from Gatsibo District used to save Rwf 200 per week with a goal of purchasing hens for every parent. Before distributing the hens, they distributed goats (two parents shared one goat) after the first saving year.

After discovering that goats were not profitable, they switched to raising chickens. This poultry farming opened the business door to group members, as you can discover in the following video :

 

 

On 24th and 25th March 2025, at the Centre Saint Vincent Pallotti Gikondo, Caritas Rwanda held its 28th General Assembly to assess the implementation of its 27th General Assembly recommendations (2024), to present the 2024 activity report and the 2025-2030 strategic plan, and to formulate the recommendations for 2025.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza, President of Caritas Rwanda and Bishop of the Nyundo Diocese, emphasised the need for combined efforts, especially in these times when humanitarian interventions are declining daily due to cuts and reductions in external funding. “We must therefore combine our efforts more than ever to increase our capacity to support the poor, showing them more of our charity,” he said. Bishop Anaclet added that charity without prayer risks becoming a philanthropy that quickly runs out of steam, as Pope Francis recalled during the celebration of the 8th World Day of the Poor on November 17, 2024.

The President of Caritas Rwanda took this opportunity to thank all Caritas across the country for celebrating this day (World Day of the Poor) in an impressive way and in communion and sharing with the poor in hospitals, Approved Catholic Health Facilities (FOSA), parishes, and all grassroots ecclesial communities.

Addressing the participants, Father Thomasz Gdula, the Secretary of the Nunciature, emphasized that throughout its history, Caritas has responded to major global crises while supporting structural changes to address the root causes of poverty. He thanked the national and international organisations, as well as the individuals of goodwill, who join forces with Caritas to help those most in need.

At the 28th General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda, the 2024 activity report, presented through four Caritas Rwanda’s departments (the Administration and Finance Department, the Social Welfare Department, Health Department and the Development Department), showed that all the activities had been successfully implemented.

During this General Assembly, it was announced that the total fundraising for the 2024 Charity Month is Rwf 165.534.676. The Diocesan Caritas of Ruhengeri came in first place with Rwf 35,197,623 of contributions, followed by the Diocesan Caritas of Cyangugu, which raised Rwf 21,313,555.

Recommendations for 2025

Among the recommendations of the 28th General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda are strengthening synergy between the various commissions of the C.E.R., collaboration and synergy between Caritas Rwanda and all Episcopal Commissions and services working in Integral Human Development, as well as strengthening resource mobilization strategies and exploring new innovative actions to increase equity towards the organization’s sustainability.

There is also the operationalization of prison chaplaincy at all levels, the inculcation of an audit culture at Caritas levels and Approved Health Facilities (FOSA), the diversification of strategies to increase the Month of Charity Month fundraisings, the ensuring that each FOSA has a chapel to facilitate the spiritual care of the sick and their families, as well as the strengthening of the awareness of Caritas spirit in its areas of intervention (Social Welfare, Health, and Development).

The 28^th General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda was also an opportunity to welcome the President of Missio Invest, Father Andrew Small, who gave a brief presentation on the various funding opportunities offered by this organization for entrepreneurial development initiatives led by the Catholic Church with a view to financial autonomy.

It is also worth noting the appointment of Father Jérémie Shyaka, Director of the Diocesan Caritas of Kibungo, to the Board of Directors of Caritas Rwanda, replacing Father Félicien Mujyambere.

During a community awareness event on positive parenting, which focused on the role of fathers in nurturing their children’s growth and development, organized by the ECD Project in Bugesera District on March 21, 2025, the Kamabuye Sector Father Role Models won the match with a score of four penalties against three of the Ngeruka Sector team.

After the game, local authorities delivered speeches emphasising the crucial role fathers play in their children’s development. Kadafi Aimable, the Executive Secretary of Ngeruka Sector, expressed gratitude to parents who have enrolled their children in home-based ECD programs. He urged those who have not yet done so to consider enrolling their children to ensure they benefit from the advantages of home-based ECDs. Aimable also extended his appreciation to Caritas Rwanda and Plan International Rwanda for their support of home-based ECD programs in Bugesera District.

Following the game, local leaders led discussions on the importance of fathers in their children’s’ growth. Bamurange Appollinarie, the Gender and Family Promotion Officer in Bugesera District, emphasized the importance of proper child-rearing. She advised parents to avoid punishing their children out of anger, and instead focus on encouraging and boosting their self-confidence. Building and maintaining a strong friendship with their children, actively listening to them, clearly communicating expectations, offering praise for achievements, and setting a positive example were all highlighted as key components of effective parenting.

After the local leaders’ speeches, a lively Questions-and-Answers session centered on early childhood development took place. The winners of the session were rewarded with jerseys, while trophies were presented to both teams involved.

From March 10-21, 2025, Caritas Rwanda, in partnership with the RBC Malaria Division and Nyamasheke District Task Force Team, carried out an intensive 2-week Malaria investigation in the hotspot sectors of Macuba, Kirimbi, and Kagano.

This activity aimed to identify areas with the highest malaria burden and implement targeted actions to reduce malaria incidence. During this period, Caritas Rwanda conducted door-to-door household visits in communities most affected by malaria, providing valuable education on prevention and control measures.

In addition, community mobilization meetings known as Inteko z’abaturage were organized to engage local leaders and citizens, increasing awareness and strengthening the community’s role in combating malaria. The collaboration focused on ensuring sustainable and effective malaria prevention practices within the affected villages.