Members of Rwanda Civil Society Platform are planning to build 211 housing units and renovate more homes for child-headed families and other vulnerable citizens during the Civil Society Month that started yesterday.

This was announced, yesterday, during a media briefing organised by the platform in Kigali, where officials announced a series of activities lined up for the period of one month.

Edouard Munyamariza, the chairperson of Rwanda Civil Society Platform, reiterated the commitment by the country’s civil society to play an active role in citizens’ welfare, beyond advocacy, their core business.

He said that 200 housing units will be constructed in Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts in Western Province.

The beneficiary households will also be given cows to boost their welfare, he added.

The remaining housing units will be constructed in Rukumberi Sector of Ngoma District, according to Munyamariza.

Agriculture, education

Other areas to focus on, Munyamariza said, are agriculture and education where they will work with citizens across the country to uplift their agricultural practices and also encourage them to send their children to school.

"We will work with more than 17,000 farmers to increase produce and add value to it,” Munyamariza said.

The targeted farmers are from six districts; Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kirehe and Nyanza.

More than 17,000 other farmers will be linked to the market through use of ICT, he said.

Munyamariza added that they have also planned a campaign targeting over 400 informal cross-border traders to help them understand what they stand to gain from formalising their trade.

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