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

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the support of The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has donated construction Materials and livestock to people in Shyorongi sector in Rulindo District on the Tuesday the 4^th.Sept.2012.

Residents in this sector were affected by rainfall in the last months and most of the properties and houses were destroyed. Those that were given construction materials were happy that they are going to be happy while living in their houses since they were living in other people’s homes after the destruction of their houses one of these residents is Venansiya Mukandoli who got shelter thanks to the sector administration.

Gaspard Murenzi who represented MIDIMAR said that this organization works in some districts in Rwanda and it gives basic support to vulnerable people and teaches general skills to people and it is supported by Japan Government.

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.

‘Wikiheba mwana’ centre, literally ‘don’t lose hope child’ situated  in Ngarama sector of Gatsibo District  says that it does not have enough funds to fulfil all responsibilities as the number of children increases.

The president of this centre Mediatrice Mukasharangabo said that in the last 5 years this centre has been operating while receiving and caring for children with mental health problems, 300 children has passed through this centre and 73 children managed to get special support and some are in schools and performing very well.

This centre helps these mentally disabled children to be able to attend schools and study with normal students and those who are in delicate situations are trained in a way that they can get better, they help children with other body disabilities to be  get better and those without some body parts to get prosthesis or thesis  appliances.

Due to the kind of work this centre gets, Mukasharangabo said that it needs self sacrifice and enough funds which is a limitation to them and makes them fail to fulfil their responsibilities.

She gave examples like not getting wheel chairs for handicapped children; people to support these children by taking them to toilets and eating while they are at school, special medical care needed by some children and many other things they cannot provide due to low funds.

People who visit this centre are always surprised by the way children who are brought here are given much care though the centre is needs support.

Some of the children who come here from when they are neglected in their homes manage to perform well in schools. Among 38 children in this centre, 13 attend primary schools and are good performers and 2 are already in secondary schools and they are also doing very well.

Mukasharangabo said that if this centre can get support, it can help many children from different sectors neighbouring Ngarama sector and get hope for the future as some are even treated and get better and stop being thought of problems and not be allowed to interact with other children because of their disabilities like some of the families do instead of treating them as children.

The Eastern Province of Rwanda has launched a campaign that will see all people living in properly planned village settlements, commonly known as Imidugudu.

The campaign kicked off with the launch of a new modern village in Gatore sector, this June 2012, in Kirehe district. The event was attended by the State Minister in charge of Social Affairs, Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, provincial Governor Odette Uwamariya and Red Cross officials.

Denise Uwera, the head of special programmes at the Province said that at least 85 houses were constructed in the Gatore settlement, with the support of Rwanda Red-cross.

The policy of planned village settlement is a government initiative aimed at ensuring easy rollout of infrastructure facilities like water, energy, health and education to all Rwandans. According to the National Human Settlement Policy, every citizen is expected to settle in planned villages. Reports from the ministry of local government ranked Eastern Province as number one in proper settlement with 87.2%.
Uwera said the people would be settled quickly in safe locations that paves way for “meaningful agricultural activities and the first focus group would be people living in potentially hazardous environment- who urgently need to be relocated to planned villages.

Provincial officials hailed Red Cross for its support in promoting the campaign of eradication of grass thatched houses (commonly known as ‘Nyakatsi’). Officials also said that the implementation level has been on the mark and some areas like, Ngoma district, we have reached a record high percentage of 96.4%.

Protais Murayire, the Mayor of Kirehe district said that issues related to proper housing should be complete in three years time and so far 4 model villages, which accommodate needy people, have been constructed.

Rubavu district uses sports and exercises to teach the youth trained after the support of National Youth Council, the youth was built a sports centre in Rugerero sector so as to come together and learn.

According to Alex Ndagijimana a trainer at this centre, the NYC in its objectives about the youth built this centre that hosts different sports in Rubavu district in a way of encouraging everyone to attend to and play the game they like.

Among the games available in this centre includes football, Basketball and volleyball and their playgrounds are available at this centre, then there is ping pong, chess, playing cards, karate and kung-fu.

As Alex Ndagijimana went on to say, there games are not meant to attract youth to relaxation only but also to learn on their reproductive health and they plan to make this place productive by preparing competition with other teams.

“Every team has a potential coach though it is evident that most of them like football.” He said to Bahoneza.

Though football is much liked, it has not yet given productive results like karate, kung-fu where some of the players won medals like James Munezero who got a bronze medal and a gold one in the competition of less than 11 years.

Jean Claude Uwayezu the coach of PASSEVU foot ball club said that teams in sectors of Rubavu are still building themselves and cannot compete with other teams and for the fact that their financial status is still a problem but this doesn’t stop them from preparing games in Rubavu district and reward best players only.

They are hoping that sports will develop in Rubavu district and they have a prospective sponsor called Charles from Pfunda tea that will be dressing teams and give financial support.

The NYC has built the same sports centre in other 8 districts in Rwanda including Rutsiro, Rurindo, Nyamasheke, Bugesera, Gasabo and others.

The members of cooperatives under support of CODRBC (cooperative pour development rural et le bien etre Communautaire) – Abizeranye in Gatsibo district say they are happy for the support from this project that helped them get out of poverty as now they can create their own jobs.

On the 30^th.May.2012 when Global Fund visited CODRBC-Abizeranye project that supports different cooperatives in Gatsibo district, members of cooperatives that are supported by CODRBC informed Global Fund that the progress they have given them hope to have good life and to fight poverty with the help of the work they do of crocheting students’ sweaters and poultry farming.

Sylvestre Ngwabije the president of CODRBC-Abizeranye project said that their objective is to help the needy to get out of poverty through hard work where people who work think of how to get out of poverty.

Maculate Uwankusi one of the people who were supported who is also the chairperson of Girisuku cooperative-Kabarole who learn to crotchet students’ sweaters from this project said that they started making hats and now they make sweaters where a person can make at least 3 sweaters a day.

She says that their cooperative has improved their life styles and now many schools no longer make long journeys to buy students’ sweaters of which they do after cleaning Kabarore town and they learn crocheting in the house they rent for themselves.

Residents from Cyamburara cell, Murundi sector in Kayonza district complain to have no toilets due to water from underground that fills their houses and toilets causing destruction.

Kalisa, Cyamburara resident revealed to us: “When you want to visit the toilet, you sit near the toilet and after use a stick to push them into the water.”

Kalisa explains that doing their business near the toilet is due to the fear that it might collapse and claim the life of the one using it. However, some residents dig shallow holes to use as toilets and cover them after.

They have been given water purifier Sur’Eau, and are asked to use it and clean water so as to prevent poor hygiene diseases.

Although residents confirm that they use water from the dams for home use and drinking, it is worrying is that; underground water which fills toilets and houses flow to the dams which they say is very dangerous to their health.

Residents request the local leadership to try and shift them to a safe place and leave the Cyamburara for agricultural activities.

Claude Murekezi, executive secretary for Murundi sector, says that advocacy was made but the final decision is waited upon from the higher authorities.

Karongi district Vice-Mayor Dativa Mukabalisa Simbi

Karongi district has promised support to survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis during the handover of households support by MTN Rwanda’s call center agents late last week.

Speaking to the survivors and MTN call center agents, Karongi Vice-Mayor in charge of social affairs said that the survivors’ housing problem is known by district officials and is being planned for.

The Vice Mayor promised that plans of re innovating and building news houses for the genocide survivors are under way citing example of Nyereri settlement for the survivors that was built by the district in Rubengera Sector Karongi district.

Most of Karongi genocide survivors’ houses were built in a very short period leaving their structural shaky as they were built primarily to solve the then housing problem of survivors.

Felicien Nsabimana a Guardian of Karongi Orphans thanked MTN-Rwanda for their support and explained the difficult life that Orphans go through pointing out housing as one of the bigger challenges.

Residents of Kigina sector in Kirehe district on April 28th 2012 saw the community work building for the vulnerable old man who survived 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

Soldiers, police men, different leaders and residents had gathered for the community work.

Old Augustin Murara, who has five children from his first wife and two children from the current wife, is thankful for getting a new house which he had no hope for due to poverty.

During the community work, Sylvestre Uwitonze in charge of good governance in Kirehe district explained to the residents their role in development and told them that helping each other is an act of Rwandese.

Also he reminded them of the poverty fighting program (EDPRS) in rural areas that has finished its first phase.

He advised residents to take part in the second phase of poverty fighting by sharing their ideas basing on four pillars of the government.

Ideas from residents will be considered for the development plan making and that the financial year will be prepared depending on residents ideas.

Police official Sup. John Sesanga asked residents to strengthen security by avoiding drugs which is the root cause of evil.

People living with HIV/AIDS in Bugesera district complain to have limitations in the cooperatives particularly lack funds to help them in their daily lives. 

Women in cooperatives

Stephanie Nyiramasengesho a member of ‘Twisungane’ cooperative in Nyarugenge sector in Bugesera district says that the infected people in this cooperative meet with a big problem to carry garbage.

She said that in this kind of work they do make it difficult for them to live with this disease. “Most of us are very weak to do work that needs labour like what we do which is to carry garbage on our heads and this makes it very difficult for us considering we are AIDS carriers.”

Valens Nyaminani a member of this cooperative said that people who support these cooperative should make reviews about cooperatives that do work requiring much labour and see what they can do for their members because it is too much for them.

He said that the work of cooperatives should be put into consideration regarding those who will do it so as not to get over worked as they don’t have good health and needs to be taken care of well.

Jean de Dieu Gasamagera the coordinator of AEE that supports and analyses projects that are productive to cooperatives of HIV/AIDS patients said that some of these cooperatives don’t have financial support.