The State of Israel, through the Embassy of Israel in Rwanda, on Thursday, August 18, donated 20 cows to vulnerable families in Burera District, Northern Province.This comes to support the Girinka Program, also known as ‘One Cow Per Poor Family,’ a program initiated by the Government of Rwanda in 2006, seeking among other things, to tackle poverty and malnutrition by giving cows to the poorest families in the community.During the hand-over ceremony, the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Dr. Ron Adam, said that the initiative aims at improving the welfare of the most vulnerable.“The State of Israel is happy to support this good program of Girinka, initiated by the Government of Rwanda. Burera is the fourth District where we have donated 20 cows respectively, and we are glad that these cows are helping beneficiaries to improve their standards of living.”He continued: “This is a good and sustainable way of eradicating poverty among the less privileged because the benefits of these cows are cross-cutting. Moreover, many other families end up benefitting as well.”Yvonne Dukuzumuremyi, a mother of two children, and among the 20 families, expressed her gratitude and shared that the donation will greatly benefit her and her family.“Going forward, my two children will get milk whenever they want, and I will also have manure and therefore increase my harvest,” she said.Emmanuel Mfukuye, a father of five children, said that receiving a cow will help his struggle with health insurance and school fees.“I was struggling to pay health insurance and school fees for my children, but with this cow, I will get milk for my family and sell some of it to get the money that will help me and my family to make a better living.” According to Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira, Mayor of Burera district, the 20 cows also complement existing government efforts to improve citizens’ social welfare.“We appreciate this support from Israel. This complements different initiatives we have put in place to eradicate poverty and fight malnutrition among children. We shall make sure that the beneficiaries take good care of the cows, and give first female calves to their neighbours who are also in need of them,” she explained.According to the Girinka Program, a poor family receives a heifer, raises it and when she gives birth, the first female calf is given to another poor family and the process continues.So far, the Embassy of Israel in Rwanda has donated a total of 80 cows in four districts, namely Nyamasheke, Gisagara, Rulindo, and Burera.Burera District is one of the districts whose economy mainly relies on agriculture. So far, under the Girinka Program, around 18,000 families in the Burera district have received cows.
