It is our practice to ask our partners to identify projects each year – which we can look to supporting as and when funds are available. We ask them to prioritise any particular projects.

 

So far in 2023 we have been able to send nearly £28,000 and thought you might be interested to see how this funding has been allocated between our partners – who work in different parts of the country.

 

PHARP

Seed capital for single mothers – Rutsiro, Rulindo & Burera £4050

Sewing room for Jenda £5000

Land for Cyanika £3000

Embroidery machine - Musambira girls £500

Welding tools & materials £1500

Incidental expenses to Anastase for travel etc in 2023 £100 (a donation from us)

Total £14150

 

Free Methodist Church Projects

Carpentry shelter £1600

2023 Training £1500

Administration £230

Sewing machines for graduates £3000

Carpentry materials £2000

Land - Kimonyi Farm Project £5088

Incidental expenses to Ephaste for travel etc in 2023 £100 (a donation from us)

Total £13518

 

Below I highlight two examples of the detail we get to aid our thinking is supporting our projects. This is information we received from Anastase Rugirangoga at PHARP about supporting the seed capital for single mothers in Rutsiro and Rulindo – and about the purchase of an additional – but specialised – sewing machine.

 

1. Seed capital money for 90 single mothers from Rutsiro and Rulindo

These last two weeks we conducted a training workshop on the care of childrenfor single mothers. We had 30 at Kivumu in Rutsiro District in Western Province - and 30 at Burehe/Cyungo in Rulindo District, Northern Province.

Spending two days with each group and listening to them helped us to know them and the kind of life they live. Most of them are orphans of fathers and live with their mothers.

Most of them got pregnant during the COVID period . All of them are from very poor families without land or with very small land. They live in extreme poverty .

Most of them live by working for others and they told us that they are paid rwf 700 (approximately 70p) from 7am to 1pm. This money – when the economic situation in our country is very bad - cannot even buy a half kilogram of beans. They are struggling to have food for their children who are at high risk of malnutrition and stunting.

It is a serious challenge to us as we are teaching them to care for children.

We asked them what they could do which would help them improve their life conditions,

Everybody said – seed capital - to rent a piece of land between them on which they can grow and then sell vegetables - potatoes , bananas, fruits, sugar cane.

They call this – basket selling. They say that those who have seed capital make money to feed themselves and their children and do some saving.

They are 90 in number - and each needs rwf 50000 (about £45) to start a business. This makes a total of £4050.

Considering the life conditions of these young mothers and their children we take this project to be a priority and we hope that it can bring changes in their lives. The testimonies of these young mothers made us think of how we can intervene – as we really feel that their request is genuine.

 

2.Embroidery machine for Musambira girls £500

Some of our young girls who finished sewing training at Rukambura have started their sewing businesses in small centers around Rukambura . We have been visiting some of them and found that they have made a lot of progress. Their life conditions have greatly improved and they have great hope to continue moving forward.

They presented us a need of having a embroidering machine which is very important as they receive clients who want embroidery designs on their clothes . This means that they have to do long distances to Gitarama or Kigali where they can find the machine to put designs on their clients’ clothes .

The machine is expensive the girls are not able to buy it themselves. They requested us to put one at our Rukambura sewing center so they can access it as it also serves the students who continue to come there for sewing courses.

We took this as another important project to put in our priorities.

 

 

 

Of the Free Methodist Church Projects, the large Carpentry Shelter is to allow our trainees to work under cover but outside – even in the rainy season. This means that some pupils may continue to work inside – which others finish jobs outside. Of course, their training, meant that they could expertly build their own shelter if we provided the cost of the materials!

The request for land for the Kimonyi Farm Project will allow a small and poor community to grow vegetables – and bananas and pineapples in this area of the country – and then sell the produce at local markets to give a livelihood to a number of people – including widows looking after small children. Anyone owning animals in this community will donate manure to cultivate the land in question – as this is how communities in Rwanda work – helping each other.

I hope you feel we have again wisely used the money you help us raise year on year – and for that – as always – we thank you most sincerely.

Heather Thomas