In its 2009 Action Plan, the Rwanda Red Cross (RRC) will launch a program aimed at fighting poverty in the country from cell level.

This was revealed yesterday by RRC Secretary General, Appollinaire Karangwa, during an evaluation meeting with stakeholders at the Red Cross Headquarters in kacyiru.

Among the stakeholders were the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRRC), Rwanda government, Belgian, Danish and Spanish Embassies, Norwegian Red Cross and the Department for International Development (DFID).

According to documents seen at the workshop by The New Times, Rwanda Red Cross has got 30.000 members and 15.000 of which are volunteers. It is one of many organisations of the Red Cross that make up one international federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Disaster management, blood donation mobilisation, environment, food security and education support for the poor are some of its objectives.

Speaking to The New Times, Karangwa said that in the last two years, Rwanda Red Cross, among others, was supportive during the February earthquake incident in the Western Province; helped refugees from Tanzania and was available at the time of a volcano eruption at Goma town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"We have sponsored six thousand children in the country. We have been dealing with planting trees which I think was and is still an emergency and we have been preparing wetlands to ensure food security. We are also building houses for Genocide survivors, and now we are discussing with our partners in order to approve our plan of action,” she said, adding, " In this Action Plan, we have proposed to concentrate our efforts towards eradicating poverty and we shall be dealing directly with local leaders at cell level. We are also planning to fight the HIV epidemic and malaria.”

Peter Holf, the Director of the IFRRC said that the RRC is one of the active members of the federation and that it is committed to working with the RRC.

Josephine Mumukunde, who is in charge of communication and mobilisation at the RRC urged concerned Rwandans to join and support her organisation since it offers volunteer opportunities to help fellow Rwandans in need.

"Whatever job you do and whatever person you are, so long as you have a passion and heart to help without expecting returns, we are able and willing to work with you,” Mumukunde implored.

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