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

Gerard Habiyambere a man with a wife and 8 children, resident of Hindiro sector in Ngororero District has told Newsmen on 31^st July 2012 that he will give a cow to President Paul Kagame to show his gratitude.

 The man says the President had given him a chance he never had in all of his life when he gave him a cow during his visit to residents of Ngororero district on the 15^th.February.2012.

Habiyambere who had no single animal in his home before he was given by the president now has 3 cows including one that he got from the president and its calf and another one he bought himself after finding out the advantages of rearing cows, 2 sheep and 1 goat.

He followed the advice given by the president speaking on the radio that people should stop living in valleys and live in village settlements so as to get infrastructure services and he got a plot there and with the help of his children and different support build a house in the village settlement.

After being the first one to settle in the village settlement and was had a cow from the president, he got the courage to work hard and he bought another cow, 2 sheep and 1 goat but all is thanks to the president who opened his gate by giving him a chance he had not dreamt of in all his life that is to become a farmer.

Apart from vowing to give the president a cow back, he participates in Girinka program by giving to the neighbors and he goes around sensitizing people to join him in the village settlement so as to get electricity.

The courage he has and his actions got him the favor of his neighbors and he was elected to become the village leader another dream he never had because of his poverty.

People who know him including the administrators of the sector he resides in say that he has plans for a better future and he wants to go with his neighbors along.

The administration of Rukara sector in Kayonza district in cooperation with the World Vision Organisation has started a program of sensitizing parents to stop forcing  their children do hard work which is inappropriate to their age

This sensitization started on the 31^st.July.2012 and it will last for only a week as the administration council of this sector explained.

The main objective of this sensitization is to make parents know the effects of hard work to their children as it delays the functioning of their brains which makes them dull in schools.

In Kayonza district, many parents use their children for hard labour such as working in mining especially in Rwinkwavu sites and making their children miss schools to do petty trading which results into some of them dropping out of it completely.

Appolon Mwumvaneza the coordinator of World vision Rukara branch said that though there are expected punishments for such parents, they are not enough and that is why they opted for sensitization for them to know the dangers they are exposing their children to instead of doing it afraid of the law.

Parents will be given lessons on the dangers of hard labour on the children and how they can protect their children any kind of abuse and violence.

The Kirehe Community Based Watershed Management Project (KWAMP) with the support of Kirehe district have given out 60 cows to Rwandans in Nyamugari sector, who have been expelled  from Tanzania , the  support was on  1^st.Aug.2012.

These Rwandans who were sent away from Tanzania are presently residents of Nyamugari sector in Kirehe, according to the vice mayor for social affairs in the area Jacqueline Murekatete.

They were asked to take good care of these cows and she reminded them that if these cows reproduce, they will be able to get milk for their families, get school fees and medical insurances for their families and in improving their social welfares.

Gasasira Janvier the coordinator of KWAMP asked those who were given cows to feed them well for better milk production and they appreciated said that they lost their cattle in Tanzania and now they back to becoming farmers which will improve their social lives as Marie Mukagashugi who resides in Bukinanyana village  happily confirmed.

André Kagabo who is in charge of Girinka program on the National level said that they have distributed more than 133,000 cows to the people in this program in the whole country and in Kirehe district only about 7,091 cows were given.

Cows that were given to these Rwandans returnees are of Jersey breed from South Africa and one cow is worth Rwf1.2million and about 300 goats to provide milk were also brought with these cows to Kirehe district.

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.

The selected constructors from Kanjongo sector in Nyamasheke district are in training on how to make bricks and tiles from sand and cement using machines and this is meant to play a role in quick settling people in settlement villages.

Shaban Mbyayingabo a trainer said that bricks made in this way are harder than usual bricks used in the villages locally known as Rukarara and it can be used after 5 days of being laid. He asked all constructors to come and learn from them about making such bricks which are even cheaper depending on where they are made which is between 28 and 35 francs.

Distributing these bricks and tiles everywhere is an objective in the program of settling people well in settlement villages as Théogène Nkaka a worker in village settlements department in the ministry of Local governments.

Charles Bahizi The vice mayor for finance and economic development in Nyamasheke district asked those who attended this training to follow their lessons attentively so as to make use of it and to care about the machines they are using for them to last a long period of time. To built using these bricks does not necessitate using cement or soil in the putting together bricks as they hold each other by putting them above together.

After this training, the trainees will build an exemplary house which will be given to a vulnerable person in Kanjongo sector. MINALOC has also agreed to support the first 10 people who will show the need to live in this village settlement by giving them sand and cement to make tiles for roofing.

On July 26^th 2012, Youth motorcyclists in COTMNDAGA cooperative in Kiziguro sector donated goats worth Rwf150, 000 to vulnerable genocide survivors.

COTMNDAGA cooperative members give livestock among themselves but they donated goats to vulnerable residents as a way of joining their neighbours in fighting poverty.

Frank Nkundineza revealed to the beneficiaries, Kiziguro and Gatsibo district authorities that they desire to build their country starting from their residence areas.

Nkundineza adds donating to the vulnerable residents is an act of love they intend to instill in their neighbours to help and resolve problems in society.

Angelique Uwimana, a beneficiary from Mushobora Cell in Remera sector, thanked youth motorcyclists for the love and promised to make good use of the goat to achieve development.

COTMNDAGA cooperative members were asked to strive for social and economic development fighting drug use that is common in motorcyclists.

COTMNDAGA motorcyclists were given uniforms and visited Kiziguro genocide memorial centre where over 12000 bodies are laid to rest.

People in different groups of the poor, those living with HIV/AIDS and the 1994 genocide against Tutsi survivors in Kamembe Mururu, Gihundwe, Giheke and Nkanka sectors in Rusizi district say that they are in the journey of becoming farmers.

They said this after being given 45 cows by Mission of Hope Rwanda (MOHR) Project on the support of Global Fund to get these people out of poverty as these cows will ensure their development.

Bertha Nyirabihizi a resident of Giheke sector and her fellows who were also given cows said that they will protect and take care of these cows and fight poverty when they are able to promote themselves and they will manage because they were trained about it.

For them it is like a dream come true as they are no longer called the poor but farmers and they are hopeful that they will never be affected by poor eating and their families will be free of malnutrition and they will able to pay their contribution for Mutuelle de santé medical insurance. And they will give their neighbours once these cows reproduce.

According to Scovia NARAME the coordinator of Mission of Hope Rwanda, In Rusizi district said that these cows will be of much importance to these people and their neighbours. The district and sector leaders were asked to make a follow up on these cows and how they are taken care of by the groups they were given.

Oscar Niyonsaba the veterinary doctor of Rusizi district asked those who were given cows to take good care of them as they will take them from one level to the other and he said that with the help of veterinary doctors in sectors, they will keep a close watch on these cows and they were warned about using the normal bulls for reproduction as they give no production.

Apart from giving cows to people, Mission of Rwanda Gave to every group 1.8 million francs to take care of these cows by buying medicine and all necessities while taking care of those cows.

 Baho Neza Mwana center in Kamembe sector in Rusizi district has contributed to better life among former street children in Rusizi District who confirm to be very well cared for and attended to, different from former life when they spent days and nights on empty stomachs.

According to the children who claimed their happiness on 16^th July 2012, some of the reasons that led them to streets were extended families and being in much poverty; why they decided to look for survival on streets

Claudette Mukarurangwa the director of Baho Neza Mwana center said that this center was initiated by Rwanda AID project with the support of Rusizi district in a way of protecting children’s rights. She said that most of these children are offspring of prostitutes and their fathers do not even know of their existence.

This center has about 31 street children all from Rusizi district and it was opened on the 9^th.April.2012. There are still children in streets of Rusizi district though and Mukarurangwa says this is due to the fact that some children do not want to leave streets; they take them to the center and break through come back to the streets. This center takes in children under 16 years of age only.

On July 7th 2012, a three months training for 38 Avega members, organised by Survivor fund (SURF) was closed in Nkungu sector in Rusizi district.

The purpose behind the training was to teach them job creation, making good use of loans and to initiate cooperatives in order to achieve long term development.

AVEGA members displaying their certificates

The training was conducted by Alex Shema, AVEGA worker in Western province who thanked the participants for their commitment towards the three months training.

Shema asked the participants to practice what they learnt so that they do not forget since learning is practicing. He added that what they were taught can change their entire lives if they pay much attention to them.

While giving certificates to the participants, executive secretary of Nkungu sector asked AVEGA members to implement what they learnt and promised to be supportive in their activities.

On the side of the members, they are grateful to SURF for the skills they acquired and believe they will pave the way to their development.

Duhugurane-Biringaga is a cooperative of some residents of Cyeza sector in Muhanga district that rears poultry among other projects that they have in plan but it anticipates more.

With about two month since commencement, the cooperatives’ leaders are expectant of a larger produce than they think the available market can consume.

Valentine Uwera, the cooperative’s vice president says that “in a four months period, we anticipate to exceed our current market. We are to produce a number of eggs which our local market can’t consume.”

“We won’t fail to expand our business because of the small market since we are lobbying for an extended market.” Adds Valentine to  bahoneza.com

Cyeza Sector executive Roger Rwiyereka promised the cooperative to do advocacy for them in order for them to have access to a bigger market.

Duhugurane-Biringaga has 75 members from Makera and Biringaga Cells of Cyera Sector. They began with 206 hens.