Dar Al-Handasah, a leading consulting firm in the areas of engineering and architecture, recently spearheaded a community service activity in Bugesera District that aimed at creating a bond of fraternity between the company and Bugesera residents.
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The company sponsored Orion Basketball Club in its campaign dubbed "One Shot One Tree” which came along with various charity support to vulnerable families.
The company boasts a global community of over 9,000 professionals across five major design centers and 54 offices worldwide.
Collectively, their teams have delivered over 4,500 projects worth more than $540 billion for more than 950 clients globally.
At the community outreach event held on Sunday, December 10, in Shyara Sector in Bugesera District, Dar Al- Handasah used the occasion to extended support to local communities.
Vulnerable households, as part of the national ‘Girinka’ programme, were gifted pregnant daily heifers as sign of prosperity, gratitude and well-being being of the Shyara community.
Dar also supported school kids with tuition fees as part of catering for the young generation with required knowledge and skills on the labor market.
The beneficiaries were supported basing on the most in need, who have been struggling to finish one cycle equalling to three years of studies.
The firm also offered to pay health insurance premiums (Mutuelle de Santé) for 50 families, and pledged to renovate a community basketball court at Groupe Scolaire Gihinga by March 2024.
Beyond their revered engineering and design services, Dar Al-Handasah has been actively involved in ambitious development projects across Africa for over five decades.
Establishing a strong local presence, officials underscored, is the bedrock of their success in every market they operate in.
The company engages with communities, offers capacity-building programmes to transfer expertise, and commits to long-term and impactful presence in host communities.
"At Dar, we believe in the power of partnerships to transform lives," said Elie Kharrat , the Partner, and Director of Dar Al-Handasah Consultants Rwanda.
"Etymologically Dar means Home, this expresses our feeling to Bugesera, We definitely feel home here .”
Dar aims to create opportunities for underprivileged families, enabling them to improve their livelihoods and secure a better future.
Some of the company’s major projects on the continent include designing and supervising the ongoing construction of an international airport in Bugesera.
They are also in charge of Beira’s coastal protection works in Mozambique, and consultancy services for the Biopio and Baila Farta Solar Plants in Angola.
Eastern Province laud Dar’s initiative
The tree-planting initiative was commended by different officials at the event, including Jeanne Nyirahabimana, the Executive Secretary of Eastern Province, who said it promoted ‘environmental consciousness’ in the area.
"We are thrilled to witness Dar's ongoing impact in Bugesera. By planting trees and promoting environmental consciousness, we are preserving natural resources and creating a sustainable future for generations to come," she said.
Angelique Umwali, Bugesera’s Vice Mayor in charge of socio-economic development, also lauded Dar's collaboration with Orion Basketball Club to advance a climate change cause.
"We are incredibly grateful for Dar's commitment to giving back to the community where they operate. This initiative highlights the power of working together and community engagement in driving positive change," Umwali said.
Members of the community appreciated the gesture from Dar, with Winfield Mukamusoni, one of the cow recipients, hailing it as a ‘life-changing’ opportunity for her family.
"It not only provides us with a sustainable source of income but also symbolizes hope and a brighter future. We are truly grateful for the support."