AIGINET Newsletter 1st Quarter 2015 

I want to express my deep gratitude to our friends and colleagues.  Your support enabled AIGINET to conduct a successful needs assessment of Duhozanye and Adar Tubahoze, two powerful grassroots organizations that make an important difference everyday in the lives of  the most vulnerable women and children in the Southern Province of Rwanda.   

In January 2015, a team comprised of Claire Umubyeyi, Robert Burke, Betty Schlicht, (USA) and Dr.Jean Marie Nkunzimana ( France) with support from Noelle Thurlow, and Peter Britton, met with, interviewed, and engaged in strategic planning with women who are at the forefront of restoring hope and dignity to their communities.  We met with directors, program staff, government officials, health care workers, and a variety of other stakeholders at each organization.  We learned about the social, physical, and economic challenges they face, as well as their collective aspirations.

Together we defined concrete steps for a more impactful intervention to support one key project for each organization’s ongoing  sustainability.  For Duhozanye, it is the establishment of the “Babehafi (meaning “be close to them”) Initiative", a groundbreaking and multifaceted project for elder care.  At Adar Tubahoze, it is the acquisition of a machine to make a corn meal that will provide greater self sufficiency for this home of 30 special needs children.  

While there, AIGINET organized holiday  cultural celebrations, including the donations of cows to each community, an important  economic empowerment tool and symbol of friendship. The cows were presented to  the organization's members and government officials.  We celebrated with traditional ceremonies marked by Rwandan songs, dance and poetry. The team also enthusiastically participated in the purchase of cows, visiting several remote villages to find healthy cows. Two female cows and one  calf were donated and given names as part of the ceremony: “Joan Rukundo” meaning "Love;" “Mumararungu” meaning “Company Keeping”; “Agaciro” meaning "Dignity"; "Patricia Ineza” meaning "Goodness”.  Regine, an elderly Duhozanye member and happy recipient of a Jersey cow plus calf welcomed her gift with overwhelming joy.  She felt the cow would keep her company and help lift her out of poverty.  Her promised dedication to livestock husbandry will lead to another elderly widow from Duhozanye inheriting an offspring once the cow and calf multiply!   “Mumurarungu” will ensure availability of 8-10 litres of milk daily, with the  potential for income, or sharing with other widows. "Patricia Ineza", the Holstein Fresian cow given to Adar Tubahoze, will serve as a milk supply for the children, and may also be sold to neighbors.     

In return, the recipients at each organization presented the AIGINET  team with ceremonial Rwandan baskets as an expression of gratitude.  The members of each organization were extremely grateful for the variety of other gifts and donations brought by the AIGINET team. A dozen  elderly women proudly exhibited their new glasses by reading in front of the gathering. Several young women at Adar Tubahoze were thrilled by the beautiful yarn and knitting needles. The children enjoyed the toys and clothing brought.  At each organization, AIGINET arranged and purchased a  celebratory meal and beverages.

It was indeed an inspiring and impactful journey.  We hope you continue to stand with us for the next steps:

I)  One of  the January trip’s outcomes was to set the groundwork  for  a volunteer trip of doctors who will head to Butare to support the health center adjacent to Adar Tubahoze which serves the medical needs of the children. The International Emergency Response Team led by Dr. Josh Schiller is planning to establish a mobile clinic at Rango Health Center to provide primary and emergency care to Adar Tubahoze, as well as  other local patients. The team will also provide on-site training to local nurses to improve the capacity of the center to better serve the community.

 II) Support the capacity building for elder care at Duhozanye  and special needs assessment  at Adar Tubahoze are  among the priorities identified during our assessment trip.  We are trying to identify scholarships or opportunities for short term training for 2 social workers and 1 clinical psychologist. Please contact Claire for any lead or information at mclaire-umubyeyi@aiginet.org.

III) Support our plan to deliver a corn processing machine urgently needed by Adar Tubahoze as a sustainable source of income.   The machine costs approximately $4000 and AIGNET is in the process of writing a grant for this project. 

Stay connected with AIGINET and consider offering your talents and skills for the 2016 Volunteer trip. 

Although we cannot do everything, it is clear, from their smiles, even small efforts have big impact in the lives of the most vulnerable. Together, we are making a difference.

With deep gratitude and appreciation,

Claire Umubyeyi