To evaluate the implementation of Caritas Rwanda General Assembly 2023 recommendations and exchange ideas, a team from Caritas Cyangugu (Coordinators of Departments) and Caritas Rwanda met on 5th September 2024, at the Caritas Cyangugu Offices.
Intending to increase the Charity Month contribution, Caritas Cyangugu met and collaborated with the priests to encourage them to raise awareness about this month. Caritas Cyangugu also produced flyers about Charity Month and called on everyone to contribute, distributed in workplaces, financial institutions, business houses, and other places. Each flyer was accompanied by a contribution request letter.
During this meeting, Caritas Cyangugu Coordinators of Departments were able to present the different activities of Caritas Cyangugu, including paying school fees for vulnerable children, caring for people with disability, assisting poor families, empowering the poor, self-reliance promotion-related projects, youth projects, and monitoring Early Childhood Development home based and centers.
In project implementation, Caritas Cyangugu encourages project participants to help other vulnerable people. Specifically, young people are actively engaged in charitable and volunteer activities. One notable initiative is the annual youth forum, where participants pool funds saved from transportation costs to purchase sheet metal and construct homes for impoverished families. Additionally, young volunteers partake in activities such as visiting the sick. These efforts exemplify Caritas Cyangugu’s commitment to empowering youth and fostering a culture of compassion and service within the community.
To promote the visibility of Caritas, during the meeting, Caritas Cyangugu staff members received a short training on how to write a good article. The knowledge gained will enable all departments of Caritas Cyangugu to produce high-quality articles for publication in Caritas Contact 2024.
In honour of Caritas Day and World Day of the Poor every year, Caritas Cyangugu hosts Caritas Week. This event encourages young individuals to participate in volunteer activities and aims to rejuvenate Caritas committees. The last day of Caritas Week is World Day of the Poor and Caritas Day. Those who have contributed to the organisation of Caritas Week are recognised and the poor receive assistance to help them out of poverty.
After the meeting, the joint team (Caritas Rwanda and Caritas Cyangugu) visited the Centre Saint François d’Assise de Rusizi, which assists children with disability, under the management of the Penitent Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi.
