Ten families ranked under the first and second categories of Ubudehe were this week given two hybrid dairy cows each under the one-cow-per househould programme. Each family received a milk cow and calf. They were also given animal iodine salt, sprayers and insecticides for spraying. The cows and the items are worth Rwf6 million. The cows were donated by Direct Aid, a Muslim charity organisation operating in Gatsibo and Bugesera districts in Eastern Province, and Gasabo and Nyarugenge districts in Kigali. Richard Murego, the executive secretary of Kabarore Sector in Gatsibo District, commended the organisation and called upon other agencies to follow suit. “We’re impressed that Direct Aid chose to give a cow and calf to each family. It’s a noble action because the cows are going to be productive to the families right away,” he said. Direct Aid’s director-general Abdel Marik Hassan said they are willing to give more cows to other families in the four districts where they operate in a bid to fight poverty. “We’ll go ahead helping vulnerable families because we’re a charity organisation that fights poverty. We hope the beneficiaries will prosper and help others too,” he said. One of the beneficiaries, Mutoni Mukamana, said it was her first time in over two decades to have a cow in her courtyard and she hopes to do a lot with it. “I’m happy I received a cow and a calf. We’re going to get milk as a family,” she said. Direct Aid was founded in 1981 in Kuwait and operates in 30 African countries. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
