Korean NGO to support Kamonyi’s poor

KAMONYI- Korean NGO, Good Neighbours (GN) Rwanda will, next week, launch a roofing and kitchen programme targeting vulnerable families in Kagina and Ngoma cells in Kamonyi District.

Monday, December 12, 2011
Managing-Director-of-Good-Neighbours-David-Sehyeon-Baek,(left)-speaks-to-reporters.-Photo-Sunday-Times-D.Sabiit

KAMONYI- Korean NGO, Good Neighbours (GN) Rwanda will, next week, launch a roofing and kitchen programme targeting vulnerable families in Kagina and Ngoma cells in Kamonyi District.

The "KRT Project (Kitchen, Roof and Toilet renovation project)" will start with 60 families with the pilot programme benefitting at least 300 people.

GN Rwanda will also construct two watering points in each of the sectors as a way of solving the problem of lack of clean water in the said communities.

David Sehyeon Baek, Managing Director of Good Neighbours said the programme is aimed at supporting the community to improve their conditions of living through provision of  better roofs, kitchens and toilets for the beneficiaries.

"The reason behind improving kitchens, roofs and toilets is that those three are crucial in ensuring people's health and nutritional conditions,” Baek said.

Baek noted that the programme is not supposed to nurture the dependency but encourage participation of the community pointing out that the beneficiaries would be able to gain skills and sustain the programme in the long term.

"This is a long-term project. Through this project, the community members will feel more united, since they put their hands together to help other vulnerable neighbours," Baek said.

The beneficiaries were selected among the most vulnerable families, whose conditions are alarming. A survey conducted by Good Neighbours, indicates that the vulnerable families cooked inside poorly ventilated houses without proper kitchens.

The suvery further indicated that most of the houses had leaky roofs that let in rain water as well as dust during dry seasons thus exacerbating the health conditions of the family.

The problem of respiratory diseases was highlighted among major health problems faced by this community, during a special outreach programme conducted by medics from Rwanda Military Hospital recently.

Local leaders welcomed the support stating that the community would be learn from the experience and support each other to improve each other’s household in future.

"Community participation and sustainability of these support projects through ownership is the key towards success and social transformation of the community," Alice Uwera, the vice mayor of social affairs noted.

daniel.sabiiti@newtimes.co.rw