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

Rugera sector is one of the 12 sectors that make Nyabihu district in the western province and residents of this sector were given cows by HPI (Heifers Program International) and those cows reproduced and these 32 cows were given to the poor on the 3^rd.Aug.2012.

The 32 cows were given to selected women in vulnerable families in this sector so as to get them out of poverty and to improve the social welfare of their families and to boost their farming through getting manure daily.

Elise Uwonkunda’s family that resides in Kirehe village was given a cow to rear and with much excited with her family members, they are sure that this cow will improve their social welfare and give them manure to boost their farming and give them means to fight poverty.

People who were given cows said it is very important to take their gratitude to the person who initiated Girinka program and HPI project for giving them a chance to own cows and saving their families from malnutrition and poverty. They promised to take good care of these cows and to give to those without once they reproduce.

Angela Mukaminani the vice mayor for finance and economic development in Nyabihu district thanked HPI for giving cows to people which is an objective of Rwanda government to support residents in fighting against poverty. He asked them to protect those cows and to think of their neighbors when they reproduce so as to break the cycle of poverty with the cycle of togetherness.

Some of the vulnerable families in Muyira sector have been  given cows in a way of helping them fight diseases resulting from  poor diets, the help also aims at providing  manure for boosting farming; the event was on 2^nd August 2012

The cows that were given to people were 31 and were given by those who decided to return a favour to the president of the republic who gave them cows by giving to their neighbours in Girinka program after theirs reproduced.

Marie Igenukwayo who gave a cow to her neighbour said that Girinka program gives people hope to move towards vision 2020 where everyone will be having a cow and no one will be affected by poor eating habits.

“I have given this cow with much happiness and I want my neighbour to have milk for his family and manure for his farming to promote his social welfare.” Marie Igenukwayo explained.

Specoise Mukantabana who resides in Nyundo cell in Muyira sector who was given a cow said “I thank the leaders of this country who always think about their subjects’ development because if it wasn’t like that, I wouldn’t be called a farmer all my life as I do not even have a goat of my own.”

These cows will promote their lives by getting milk, manure for their farms and they were warned not to sell these cows or neglecting them which would be fatal as Clement Gasore the executive secretary of Muyira sector said.

Joint Action Development Forums (JADF) has given cows to three poor residents from different sectors (one resident from each sector) in Nyamasheke district.

This was during an event to close an open day organized by JADF (Joint Action Development Forums) in Nyamasheke.

53 aged Ruth Nyiramakuba, a beneficiary mother of seven and married to a cripple husband, thanked JADF for giving her a cow that will change her life.

“I am lucky to have got a cow. I will get manure and till a small garden so that we get food. I have been poor enough to afford factory made manure,” adds Nyiramakuba.

Charles Bahizi, vice mayor in charge of finance and development and JADF Director Nyamasheke highlights “JADF aims at social and economic development of the residents, that is why it gave cows to the poor residents.”

One of the partners of Nyamasheke Innocent Nzeyimana, also PFAM (peace for all ministries) representative discloses that JADF intends to give over 45 more cows to five cooperatives from five sectors.

Nzeyimana confirms that money for buying cows is already on the bank account but the bid to buy them is not yet out for competition.