At least 913 households, vulnerable groups with special needs in the Eastern Province are relieved after receiving Rwf164 million support from Rwanda Red Cross so as to recover from Covid-19 effects.
Emmanuel Mazimpaka, the Red Cross Head of Communication, Fundraising and Humanitarian Diplomacy Department said that each family got Rwf180,000.
"The amount comprises Rwf30,000 to buy households’ basic needs such as food, building kitchen gardens and toilets among others while Rwf150,000 should help them start income generating activities such as agriculture and livestock, trade and others,” he said.
He said the Rwanda Red Cross support is part of a project dubbed "BAHIA’ which operates in the districts of Kayonza, Kirehe, Nyagatare and Ngoma funded by the Belgium government through the Belgium Red Cross.
"We urge the beneficiaries to make use of the support and implement their small income generating projects to develop their families and eradicate poverty,” he said.
Beneficiaries welcome the support
The New Times visited the beneficiaries from Kirehe district on March 28 and 29.
Fortunee Mukamuvara an old woman from Kigina sector is one of the beneficiaries.
She said that support is a timely relief.
"When Covid-19 broke out in the country we were affected. I will use the Rwf150,000 financial support to buy goats. We used Rwf30,000 to pay for mutuelle de santé and other basic needs,” she added.
She said the support will also help her re-join her saving scheme, which she had quit due to Covid-19.
Angelique Nyirarwoga, another beneficiary with a family of six from Rwanteru cell in Kigina sector said that she used to sell tomatoes to generate income, but abandoned the business when Covid-19 broke out.
"I am going to buy goats,” she said, adding she will set up another small business.
Like Mukamuvara, she also plans to resume her saving scheme in her association.
Faustin Ndekezi, an old man from Kigina sector commended Red Cross Support saying that he is going to venture into poultry farming.
"I am old and I need a small income to help me in my old age. Income from poultry farming will help me to also join a savings association. When I got the first Rwf30,000 I bought five cocks. From the second Rwf150,000 support I am going to buy more,” he said.
Rwanda Red Cross has also integrated the youth into the project.
Rehema Mukansigaye is one of the young beneficiaries from Ruhanga cell, Rubare village in Kigina sector who dropped out of school when she was in senior two.
"I have gained tailoring skills but I couldn’t get a tailoring machine during Covid-19 times. I am now going to buy the machine using the Rwanda Red Cross Support. I am lucky and ready to start working and generating income,” she said.
Previous beneficiaries’ testimonies
According to Rwanda Red Cross, the 913 supported families this year are in addition to others that were supported last year.
"Some had small businesses but due to Covid-19 affects their capital was exhausted. So, they were in need of capital to revive their business. Those who got Rwf180,000 last year are now reaping fruits.
We have to work with local leaders to monitor how the families are using the support to ensure project sustainability,” Rwanda Red Cross Mazimpaka said.
Caritas Kayitesi is a Rwandan who was housed in a model village with all basic facilities in Nyamugali sector by Rwanda Red Cross in 2006 after being expelled from Tanzania.
When Covid-19 broke out she also got support to recover from the effects last year.
"We used to work and generate income before Covid-19. But when it broke out we were affected. Fortunately, I got Rwf180,000 funds from the Red Cross last year which I invested in a poultry farming project with 20 chickens. I would generate income from eggs to satisfy my needs,” she said.
When the animal feeds became expensive, she said she shifted to rearing goats.
"One goat has produced four kids so far and the other is about to produce. Thanks to Red Cross Support I am satisfying basic needs and school fees for my five children,” she said.
Shemsa Murekatete, another beneficiary in the same model village supported by Rwanda Red Cross said that she spent Rwf180,000 finance to open a basic needs shop.
"From the profit, I have bought a goat. I have spent the remaining profit to buy maize grains which I am retailing. I am grateful to Rwanda Red Cross for its intervention during difficult times,” she said.
She said she is operating the shop at her home adding, however, that once profits increase, she is planning to rent a house for her shop.
Olive Ingabire, another beneficiary, said that she bought three goats.
"One has produced two kids and another is about to produce,” she said.
Didas Habimana, one of the district staff who toured the beneficiaries’ projects on Monday and Tuesday urged them to strive for eradicating poverty in their families and community in general.
"You should not misspend the funds because the funds are aimed to eradicate poverty. Under a seven-year programme we have a target to reduce poverty to a certain level in Rwanda and it should start with individuals and households’ level,’ he said, lauding Rwanda Red Cross over the support expected to drastically reduce extreme poverty.
Eight agribusiness cooperatives supported
Emmanuel Mazimpaka, the Red Cross Head of Communication, Fundraising and Humanitarian Diplomacy Department added that this year, Rwanda Red Cross also supported two agriculture cooperatives in the four districts.
"Each cooperative got Rwf2.5 million meaning Rwf5 million in every district,” he said.
The eight agriculture cooperatives-two in each of the districts of Kirehe, Kayonza, Nyagatare and Ngoma got Rwf20 million in total so as to recover from Covid-19 effects.
These include Cooperative Abadahigwa from Ngoma district with 24 members that need a pump for irrigation, fertilizers and soybean seeds.
In Ngoma there is also Zamukamunyarwanda cooperative with 51 coffee farmers in need of mulch, organic manure and fertilizers.
In Kayonza district there are Kotwidika Cooperatives with 217 maize, soybean and beans growers that need sifting and grinding machines, plastic sheeting, dryer and plastic bags as well as Twongere Ubukungu cooperative which grows maize and potatoes and needs granary, scale and sifting and grinding machine.
In Kirehe district, the supported cooperatives include KOAIMU Twihaze cooperative with 33 members.
The cooperative which grows cassava seeks sifting and grinding machines as well as farming fertilizer.
"We grow cassava on two hectares we lease. We could use a grinding machine of other people to process cassava into flour that we sell. Now we are going to buy our own grinding machine,” said Gilbert Nganabasenga, the cooperative president.
Another cooperative supported in Kirehe district is COAKAKI which grows and processes coffee.
Angelique Nyirarwoga, one of the beneficiaries of Rwanda Red Cross support interacts with Red Cross volunteer after getting Rwf180,000 support in Kigina sector.
Another cooperative supported in Kirehe district is COAKAKI which grows and processes coffee.
Faustin Ndekezi, with other beneficiaries follow remarks of Red Cross Support officials during the event.
KOAIMU Twihaze cooperative with 33 members growing cassava got Rwf2.5 million for grinding machine.
The needy families also got money to start small income generating activities.
The Rwanda Red Cross beneficiaries were urged to make use of the support to eradicate poverty and avoid misspending.