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May 26th, 2004
Women for Women International-- Rwanda opened the doors of its Chapter Office in Rwanda on March 1, 2004. Having finally received official registration as an international non-governmental organization from the Government of Rwanda in February, we moved operations out of our local partner, Speak I am Listening’s office, to our own site.
We selected our office due to its easy access for participants, its welcoming atmosphere for rights awareness education and vocational skills training workshops, and the space available for growth. We also hired a number of new staff whose energy and ideas have already made a notable contribution to our program. Our urban participants now come to our office for regular workshops with their trainers in the garden bungalows outside our office space, while the purchase of our own vehicle and the hiring a full-time driver/logistician have made visits with our rural participants easier.
All of our participants have started, or are planning to start, group savings accounts where they will develop familiarity with basic banking practices, and set aside funds for future income-generating activities. We are also focusing on the identification of marketable goods, and also on skills in which we can realistically train our participants during the course of the program. Unfortunately, since many of our participants did not have access to education, and the lack of opportunities in the Rwandan economy makes this a major challenge. Nevertheless, establishing a comprehensive vocational skills program is our next large endeavor. Our hope is that our participants will acquire skills that will help them to generate income in the long-term, but also to develop much-needed confidence. Some of the vocational skills training programs we hope to start soon include:
Wood Stove and Solar Cooker Production: Currently, 90 percent of Rwandans rely on wood as their primary source of fuel. As deforestation continues and wood becomes less available in Rwanda, it is essential that new, alternative methods for fuel are developed. The Kigali Institute for Science and Technology (KIST) has developed a more efficient wood-burning stove, as well as a solar cooker, that can be produced by the women in our program. Partnering with KIST, Women for Women International hopes to provide training in this non-traditional skill that would allow the women not only to build the stoves for personal use, but also give them the opportunity to build the stoves for sale in their local villages.
Knitting: Recently, schools in Rwanda have adopted a new policy that requires students to purchase knitted sweaters as part of the school uniform, creating a new, larger demand for knitted products. Women for Women International has identified a knitting machine that women can be readily trained to use to produce knitted items quickly and efficiently.
Food Production: There is a growing demand among the women in our program for training in both juice and bread production. Women in the more rural areas have shown heightened interest in developing local cooperatives to make and sell bread, and in purchasing large bread machines.
Soap-Making: Women for Women International has identified soap-making as a training option, especially for women in rural areas, because of its reliance on readily available, natural ingredients. Soap-making is a viable additional income source for these women to supplement any funds they may be receiving from home-based agricultural production.
For Rwanda, the last few months have been particularly important as the country has marked the 10-year anniversary of the genocide that began on April 7th, 1994, and lasted for 100 days. In April 2004, journalists, dignitaries, and human rights advocates from all over the world descended upon Rwanda to commemorate the event and to analyze the country’s progress.
On many fronts Rwanda has made miraculous progress in terms of infrastructure, economic growth, and implementation of political structures. Women especially, have been instrumental in rebuilding the country. They uncovered mass graves, buried the dead, built shelters, and found homes for nearly 500,000 orphans. Today, women hold nearly 50 percent of seats in Rwanda’s new bicameral parliament. On the other hand, many are concerned that much of the tension, and other symptoms that led to the genocide are still present in Rwanda and neighboring countries, and that the wonderful stability the nation is experiencing is dependant on somewhat questionable terms. We continue to hope for the best and move forward with our efforts to help socially excluded women in our program recover from the war, and participate in their own development and that of the country.
While participants move me almost daily with their incredible stories, Aquirina Nyirabangwiza of the Masoro group stands out. During my recent visit to the Masoro group, the topic of the rights awareness education workshop was “The Economic Value of Housework.” This topic from the Women’s World manual gets women thinking about the crucial role they play in supporting their families, though many get little or no financial or emotional reward for their efforts. Our trainer had been talking about the difficult tasks women in Rwanda perform and Aquirina was particularly outspoken about having built her own house without any help from a man. When asked why not, she said she did not need help as she could do such things on her own. While many women in Rwanda take part in construction activities, this seemed like quite an accomplishment for one woman.
Aquirina, a petite but visibly strong woman, is clearly used to fending for herself. She was born and grew up not far from the community center where we meet the Masoro women. She was orphaned at a young age and was raised by neighbors. Now grown and with five children living with her, it is clear that she wants each of them to learn the value of independence. She is proud that her younger three children are all in school. When I asked why she sends her daughter to school (she’s at a relatively high level of schooling for the village), Aquirina replied “she will be independent and not depend on anyone.” She also says that this girl, Marceline (17), is very clever, and she hopes she will go on to secondary school. Aquirina also pointed out that all of her children do household chores, and even the boys fetch water, collect firewood, and know how to cook. Her spirit is admirable, and her example a great one for her friends in the Masoro group.
I look forward to identifying others like Aquirina in the months ahead and helping our participants to learn from each other’s experiences and examples. Our new office and staff offer an exciting opportunity to put into practice new ideas and initiatives that will increase our impact on participants, their families, and their communities. Thank you again for all that you do to support these courageous survivors.
Best,
Wendy Shapiro
Country Director, Women for Women International – Rwanda |
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