From 29th to 30th January 2024, the Igire Implementing Partners, relevant government stakeholders, and USAID Rwanda teams participated in the Igire field visit and learning activity organized by Caritas Rwanda Igire-Gimbuka for OVC in the Nyamasheke district.
This field visit and learning activity was organized to gain a deeper understanding of the services provided to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). The objective was to explore the delivery approach and the collaboration with existing structures, including community volunteers, health facilities, and local leadership, to provide comprehensive clinical and community-based services to OVC.
In the afternoon of 29th January, the above-mentioned activity started with a brief session on the OVC program by Caritas Rwanda, as well as the itinerary and services to be visited. After the presentation, the participants asked a lot of questions, especially focusing on the non-suppressing program participants. It was revealed that only 1% of the 2003 program participants, who were living with HIV according to the Igire-Gimbuka presentation, fell into this category.
The Igire-Gimbuka team responded by stating that there are numerous factors contributing to this issue, with a common one being the reluctance of young participants to accept the situation. In light of this, the USAID team recommended that the Igire-Gimbuka team undertake comprehensive research to identify the specific reasons behind this resistance. By doing so, they can then provide the necessary support to help these individuals overcome their reluctance and effectively suppress the issue at hand.
The participant appreciated the Family Matters Program qualifying it as important not only for the program participants but also for the whole society. However, they raised concerns about its sustainability following the closure of the Igire-Gimbuka. The Igire-Gimbuka team said that working with the existing structures such as local leaders, IZU, and Umugoroba w’Umuryango who are involved. This collaborative effort will ensure the long-term sustainability of the Family Matters Program.
Another question was raised regarding the methods to effectively influence the mindset of children participating in the CBIM Program, to transform them into non-violent individuals. In response, the Igire-Program team emphasized their comprehensive approach, which involves continuous assessment of the children’s behavior and their adherence to sharing information, as well as their active prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). Additionally, a tool is employed before commencing the module to gauge the children’s comprehension of GBV prevention, and another assessment is conducted upon completion to determine the extent of their mindset transformation.
On January 30, the various participants in this activity visited the Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM) clubs of GS Nyanza (Bushekeri Sector) and GS Saint Nicholas (Kagano Sector), interacted with Case Management Volunteers (CMVs), Linkage Facilitators and staff at Kibogora Hospital and Gisakura Health Center. They also met with Igire-Gimbuka TVET Graduates on jobs at Gisakura Tea Factory and Atelier Hope/ Agakiriro.
After interacting with Case Management Volunteers (CMVs), Linkage Facilitators, and staff at Kibogora Hospital, Mr Lambert Dushimimana, the Governor of the Western Province, urged the Igire-Gimbuka participants to seize the opportunity they have to become resilient. The children members of Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM) clubs were encouraged to spread messages preventing GBV.
On the following day (January 31), the Igire Implementing Partners, relevant government stakeholders, and USAID Rwanda teams participated in the Igire field visit and learning activity organized by FXB’s Igire-Turengere Abana for DREAMS in the Nyanza district.