Bahoneza – Kinyarwanda, Rwanda Welfare, Social Welfare, Rwanda People, Nutrition and Diet, Rwanda Habitat, Living in Kigali

The 1994 genocide against Tutsis vulnerable survivors in Bugesera district decry lack of accommodation and they want the district administration to step in and help them get accommodation before the problem gets worse.

Louis Rwagaju the mayor of Bugesera district

This was discussed during the general assembly of Ibuka in Bugesera district that convened in Nyamata sector on the 3^rd.Jan.2013 when the coordinators of Ibuka in all sectors of Bugesera district presented the big problems affecting genocide survivors who are poor.

One of the big problems that are affecting the genocide survivors is lack of accommodation where some have none, others are in semi built houses and others got destroyed as John Rwikangura the coordinator of Ibuka in Bugesera district explained.

“in 2012, about 96 houses were built which were worth Rwf300 million and in 2013, about 70 houses will be built which will be worth Rwf270million and 54 houses will be remaining to be built plus 476 houses that need to renovated for the problem of accommodation among the needy genocide survivors to be completely solved.

As well as Ibuka, the Bugesera district administration is also concerned by this problem of lack of accommodation for the needy genocide survivors. The district has a plan of building accommodations for these genocide survivors through the district’s economic budget for the economic year 2012/2013 and this is already under the process though local people will participate through community work as Louis Rwagaju the mayor explained.

“In this year 2013, people with no accommodation will get where to stay in the 70 houses under construction, this will move along renovation of the destroyed houses and this is going to be done sooner” the mayor explained.

In this meeting, the problem of genocide survivors who were put in the class of people who are capable of supporting themselves according to Ubudehe social stratification was also discussed. These people were initially supported in FARG in paying for medical insurance need this issue to be reviewed as it is becoming difficult for them to pay for medical insurances.

The mayor advised people with this problem to talk to the committees of justice in the sectors to address their problems.

The Rwanda Hotel & Restaurant Association (RHRA)- a national non-profit trade association for the hospitality industry, which is charged with the responsibility of working with the civil, public and private sectors in promoting & protecting the interests of its members, influencing key industry decision makers & helping to shape policy & minimize the burden of new legislation, has declared that its ready to enter into discussions with local authorities in a bid to allay the sudden closures of their members’ businesses over purported or real violation of regulations.

The Chairman of the Rwanda Hotels Association Dennis Karera observed that there is need for local authorities to be more considerate in dealing with hoteliers to avoid such shortcomings that might arise from violation of some set principles.

“As much as some of our members could not meet some laws as provided by the local authorities, there is need for leniency and understanding before the local authorities take stern actions such as closing down the businesses without prior talks on the cause of closure,” Karera noted. Also present at the discussion was RDB’S acting CEO Clare Akamanzi who also called for cooperation between the hoteliers and local authorities to avoid such ugly scenarios.

The association will meet with mayors and other relevant administration officials in an attempt to fortify closer ties between the business association, the membership at large and local public officials, to uphold unvarying dialogue and exchange of views.

Karera, added that cooperation between the hotel and bar owners and the authorities will bring about proper harmonization to even take tougher measures against owners who obstinately break minimum set standards.

The mayor of Kigali Fidele Ndayisaba, he said that he hopes that the set negotiations will solve amicably identified issues and bring to an end the closure of businesses, with cooperation from the hospitality sector.  “We are ready to go into discussions with the hoteliers, listen to their grievances and look for solutions that will serve as both good,” the mayor noted.

Iri shyirahamwe Ubutwari bwo kubaho ryibumbiyemo abapfakazi ba jenoside, abagore b’abagabo bafungiwe gukora jenoside ndetse n’abagabo barangije igihano ku ruhare bagize muri jenoside, bose bo mu Mirenge ya Karama, Rusenge, Kibeho na Mata.

Nk’uko abari mu ishyirahamwe babisobanura, iri shyirahamwe ritangira mu w’1995 ryari ryibumbiyemo abafakazi ba jenoside bonyine. Nyuma yaho, abagore bafite abagabo bafunze kubera kuba barakoze jenoside baturanye baje kubasaba imbabazi ku bw’ibyaha by’abagabo babo.

Kwakira aba bagenzi babo ariko ngo ntibyaboroheye bitewe n’ibikomere bari bafite mu mutima, ariko ku bw’inyigisho bagejejweho na Padiri Masinzo Jerôme wayoboraga Paruwasi gaturika ya Karama icyo gihe, hamwe n’umubikira witwa Teya, bagiye bumva babakiriye bukebuke, none ubu bumva bishimiye kuba bari kumwe.

Mukantabana Serafina afite imyaka 59, ni umwe mu bagize ishyirahamwe Ubutwari bwo kubaho. Yagize ati “intambara ikirangira nta mbaraga nagiraga, haba ku mubiri no mu mutima. Nyuma yokwishyira hamwe n’abandi, twahuje imbaraga turahinga, mbasha kubona igitunga abana banjye kuko nari nagize amahirwe y’uko bose bacitse ku icumu. Ubu nsigaranye ibyishimo mu mutima”.

Kankindi Cassilde na we ari muri iri shyirahamwe. Ubu afite imyaka 66. Na we aratanga ubuhamya ku bw’icyo ishyirahamwe ryamumariye “nyuma ya jenoside nari mubi ku mubiri no ku mutima. Nari umwanganyi, abantu bose nkababonamo abicanyi. Ubungubu twunze ubumwe. Ugize ikibazo turamufasha, n’ubyaye tukamuhemba”. Abo yavugaga babyara ni abagore bafite abagabo bari bafunze none ubu bakaba barafunguwe.

Cassilde anavuga ko mu minsi yashize yagize ibyago agapfusha umuhungu w’umusore, ariko ngo abaturanyi batangajwe no kubona abo bari kumwe mu ishyirahamwe bamutabara bose. Yunzemo agira ati “abaturanyi tutari kumwe mu ishyirahamwe ntibajya bumva uko tubaho. Twe iyo duhuye turaganira, tugatebya, tugaseka, maze ubuzima bukaturyohera.”

Nk’uko aba babyeyi bagira igihe cyo guhura bakaganira, ngo n’abana babo ni uko. Ibi bituma bizera ko abana babo batazigera barangwa n’urwango rushingiye ku moko cyangwa amacakubiri.

Mukagatare, umuyobozi w’iri shyirahamwe, avuga ko abanyamuryango baryo ari 1964, bibumbiye mu matsinda 84. Boroye inka ku buryo buri tsinda ririmo ebyiri cyangwa eshatu. Uretse inka, boroye n’inkoko, kandi banahinga inyanya n’ibihumyo.

Uretse gukorera hamwe, banafitanye umubano n’ishyirahamwe Abiyunze ry’i Gahini. Ryo ryatangiwe n’abireze bakemera icyaha cya jenoside, haza kwiyongeraho abahungutse ndetse n’abasigajwe inyuma n’amateka.

In order to eradicate bed nyakatsi, Sweden missionaries through ADEPER Church donated Rwf300.000 and 35 mattresses to “Dusasirane Association” of Karengera cell, Kilimbi sector in Nyamasheke district.

 “Women are powerful, especially when they join efforts” was the most repeated phrase during the event that took place on June 26^th 2012.

Mrs. Anastasie Mukakabogora, National Women Council representative in Kilimbi sector, reveals that Dusasirane association of 43 women was started in 2011, with an aim of eradicating bed nyakatsi and promoting personal hygiene.

Every member of the group contributes Rwf2000 monthly and each has got a mattress worth Rwf15000 and an African printed fabric (kitenge) worth Rwf7000.

Mrs. Lydia Nyirahabiyambere, Kigali city resident from Kilimbi sector while handing 35 mattresses and Rwf300000 donation to the group, promised to get them a sponsor for financial support in development.

Mrs. Nyirahabiyambere who was made a signatory on the association account number by the missionaries asserted: When you come together, God comes to you. Women now play a big role in the development of the country.”

Joachim Kabanda, in charge of family promotion on behalf of Nyamasheke district mayor, thanked women for their dedication towards their social development and of their country.

Thanking ADEPR church for their partnership with the district in fighting poverty, Kabanda asked association members to expand and help other women.

Sensitize your husbands on joining women in development groups because it solves family problems, Kabanda advises

Family promotion officer called upon all residents to embrace all government programs like fighting malnutrition among others.

Bed nyakatsi program operates in all cells of Kilimbi sector and over 460 families have got mattresses.

The association for the youth who take care of street children in Rusizi district (RCYWA) recently participated in re-building a house for a widow Jeannette Mukabutera whose house was destroyed by the earth quake.

As RCYWA explains, this deed was to show volunteering spirit, selflessness and love among youth and Rwandans in general.

At the end of this action, Tito Felix the chairperson of RCYWA association said that this deed is worth more than Rwf500.000 and it included completing a house that was built half way buying 2 doors, 3 windows for it and covering it well.

Apart from this community work, this youth collected about Rwf50 000 that will pay the workers who will finish building this house.

Mukabutera whose house was built and her daughter Solange Murengeyinka thanked the association members to have thought about them and given them their support by building for them and thanked God for their new house.

Mukabutera is a mother of 5 and a resident of Kamatita cell, Gihundwe sector in Rusizi district and had spent almost 4 years living with neighbours with her children after her house collapsed. 

In order to improve living standards amongst themselves, residents of Gashorera cell, Nyabinoni sector in Muhanga district formed “Dutureheza” Association.

The aim of the association is to build for fellow members who cannot afford on their own. Dutureheza Association members say they are ready to shift to the village settlement because the association will help them achieve it.

However, some of them face the problem of not having plots in the village settlements, and getting a plot of land in the village is very expensive.

Members claim that plot owners ask for a lot of money or big compensation for their piece of lands.

Leonidas Nkerabigwi, in charge of social affairs and development in Gashorera cell says that measures were taken to solve the problem of residents who demand high amount of money for their lands.

Land was at Rwf50000 before but it was increased to Rwf70000.The plot owner accepts this amount or is given another plot outside the village which is equivalent to his plot.

While the residents are happy about the fair purchase of the land, those who own land in proposed village settlements say that authorities should leave the two parties to reach an agreement.

Out of 40 members of “Dutureheza Association”, only 25 members have no houses in the village settlement and out of 720 homes that make Gashorera cell, 350 homes live outside village settlement.

However, it is hoped that every home will secure a plot in the village within a short period of time.

Members of New blood Family association have visited Mediatrice Umwali, a lonely mute orphan of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi and supported her with Rwf70.000 and food; on the 22^nd.April.2012.

This association is made of the youth that finished their studies and have jobs and they did in a way of supporting her in this period of commemoration and to show that there is still hope in life.

Delice Mbaguta the vice president of the association said, they thought about forming this association after finding out that many youth who are of school got involved in bad actions and decided to make a change as they are the strength of the country and can achieve whatever they set their minds on.

Josiane Cyineza Bora, a member of this association said that it is good for a person who has problems to be approached and to know that he/she is not alone and by this a person gets a hope to live especially to an orphan who lives alone.

“A young person like this feels that she is not alone and that there are others who think about her and who are of the same age as her.” She said.

In the message this orphan wrote on the paper because she is mute, she said she was very happy for the young people full of love who think of others with problems, they gave her hope to go on living.

 Lack of care from family members and loss of parents seem to be among few causes of prostitution to young girls, according to recent findings.

Taking a sample from Muhanga district that usually has young girls below 18 years as prostitutes, the research reveal that the area has several orphans.

One of girls who is 18years and has a 5months old baby born out of prostitution says that if she had another job, she could stop prostitution since it has too much problems.

Muhanga district is in preparations to make a centre to help such young children get out of prostitution and ‘Ihorere Munyarwanda’ association that fights AIDS says they have already started discussions with these young girls so as to get out of social immoralities.

Asking for anonymity, another said how her life had been full of trouble after losing her parents, she accidentally became pregnant when she was still young and her brother sent her out of her home.

Joseph Harerimana the coordinator of ‘Ihorere Munyarwanda’ association which is determined to fight AIDS and idlers in Muhanga and Ruhango districts said that they made a research about this issue and they are looking for a way to apply their counter measures.

According to Fortunée Mukagatana the vice mayor for social affairs in Muhanga district, they are looking for measures to help these young girls get out of the situation.

Though this problem has been tackled for a very long time, the Government still puts a lot of meaning into the fight so that the situation is seen through.

L’association des guides du Rwanda(AGR) s’apprête à initier les femmes aux différents métiers du secteur de Nyundo dans le district de Rubavu ce 15 avril 2012.

Ces femmes ont été choisies par les agents chargés des affaires sociales dans ce secteur. Parmi ces femmes, on trouve des handicapées,
Alice Mukamazimpaka, secrétaire exécutive d’AGR, explique que ce projet aidera ces femmes comment prendre des décisions, a lutter contre la pauvreté. Elles seront initiées aux différents métiers. « Nous devons apprendre aux femmes comment pécher les poissons et non les nourrir car les femmes rwandaises doivent sortir de la pauvreté » a-t-elle soulignée.des femmes séropositives, des femmes qui n’ont pas pu étudier et d’autres femmes vulnérables.

Parmi les enseignements qu’elles pourront apprendre, il s’agit de bien gérer le capital initial qu’elles auront et voir au bout de 3 ans ce qu’elles auront pu arriver. Pour arriver à ses fins, AGR aura recours aux différentes associations choisies parmi d’autres. Elles seront impliquées dans des domaines tels que les droits de l’homme, l’épargne dans la banque, la lutte contre toute forme de discrimination…

AGR est en partenariat avec le comité catholique contre la faim et le développement (CCFD) pour élever le niveau de vie des femmes rwandaises. Rappelons que l’association des guides au Rwanda repartit ses activités dans 5 districts entourant le lac Kivu. Chaque district initiera 160 femmes et le nombre total de ces femmes sera de 1120 femmes qui pourront bénéficier de ces notions.

Une cérémonie de commémoration de la disparition de Nzambazamariya Venerande s’est tenue lieu à Remera, ville de Kigali en présence des membres de cette organisation ce 04 février 2012. Les membres se sont convenus tout en incitant les rwandais de propager la culture de la dignité humaine car nombre de problèmes peuvent être résolus en ce sens.

Le thème de cette rencontre était : « La bonté humaine, pilier dans la lutte contre les maltraitances, combattre les différentes sortes des drogues dans la jeunesse ».

La représentante de l’ « Association Nzambazamariya Venerande » Mme Izabiriza Médiatrice a expliqué aux participants que la lutte contre les drogues, les différentes maltraitances, la promotion des coopératives sont parmi les principales actions de leur association. Ces actions sont axées sur les femmes afin de prendre exemple sur la défunte Nzambazamariya Venerande.

Le représentant du ministère de la culture et sport a demandé aux parents de bien surveiller l’éducation de leurs enfants car sans cela ils ne seront pas inculquer des valeurs de la dignité et bonté humaine.

Il  a exhorté les jeunes et autres participants de produire des bonnes actions qui seront un bon héritage pour les générations futures. Il a promis de sensibiliser les actions et œuvres de cette association au niveau national.

Dans cette cérémonie, 12 familles qui ont entrepris des nobles actions entres autres la lutte des maltraitances conjugales ont reçu un certificat de mérite. Ces familles ont été sélectionnées dans 6 secteurs des districts de Gasabo Rulindo et Nyarugenge où les activités de cette association se repartissent. Cette cérémonie se déroule chaque année. Rappelons que Nzambazamariya était une femme qui s’était distinguée dans la promotion de la paix et la femme. Elle était un membre des organisations Pro-Femmes Twese Hambwe et le réseau des femmes.