Women Refugees in Kigeme and Gihembe camps who were previously labelled as victims, vulnerable or displaced have been able to take the initiative to improve protection and the wellbeing of their communities.

This has been possible because of the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve numerous aspects of refugees in the country.

Former UNHCR country representative Neimah Warsame said the refugees, many of them women who fled violence and insecurity in DR Congo, are slowly finding their feet.

"Against all odds, they have broken shackles of labels such as vulnerable, traumatised and displaced and instead come forth as heroes who do what needs to be done to improve the protection and well-being of their communities,” Warsame said.

She said  the Rwandan government and UNCHR are keen on empowering the women to rid themselves of the victims label.

Zipora Nyiragatete, the gender representative on Kigeme Camp’s executive committee, said as a result of the welfare efforts, women feel more empowered today.

"I am proud to own and operate a shop. I also feel empowered when I help solve issues of fellow refugees who may turn to me with their problems,” Nyiragatete said.

Others with professional skills have begun putting them to practice in the camp and are looking forward to continuing their professional practice.

Odette Nyirandayambaje, a social affairs representative at the camp, was a teacher before fleeing. She said she has been teaching at the camp and on receiving proper documentation she is set to teach in Rwanda.

"I can’t wait to get my proper documentation in Rwanda and resume teaching,” she said.

Saccos

Kigeme Camp is home to   about 18,000 refugees, the majority of them from the restive eastern swathes of DR Congo.

Through establishing cooperatives, the refugees have been able to improve their welfare by pooling resources from income generating activities they undertake such as bread and soap making.

The president of K-Cooperative in Kigeme Camp, Odette Tuyisenge, said they will soon graduate to bigger income-generating activities such as growing mushrooms.

Joanina Karugada, UNCHR senior regional advisor on women and children’s affairs, commended the refugees’ willpower in getting past the trauma and hardships of the camps.

The Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, says dignity of the women refugees was important to the Government of Rwanda.

She said the ministry had instituted necessary political, legal and institutional frameworks to do so in consultation with development partners.

Rwanda hosts more than 73,000 refugees the majority of them from DR Congo. They are sheltered in five camps.