The National Rehabilitation Services (NRS) has committed Rwf226 million toward supporting the reintegration of former delinquents into society.

The initiative, which was announced yesterday, is aimed at facilitating youth from rehabilitation centres, to access loans so they can start their own development projects.

This, officials say, will go a long way in ensuring that former delinquents don’t return to their old habits such as drug abuse among other crimes.

The kitty was announced yesterday by NRS during a consultative meeting with stakeholders to discuss the reintegration and how best the strategy can be implemented.

Beneficiaries will be able to access loans at an interest rate of 15 per cent, which is slightly lower than the commercial banks’ average rate of 17 per cent, NRS said. 

"It is not a grant from the Government, people need to understand that it is a loan that will be paid partially by the beneficiary,” Gilbert Gumira, Deputy Director General of NRS said, adding; "We try to prevent them from returning to their old habits, train them in different courses, and, lastly, we help reintegrate them.”

Officials disclosed that an individual with a viable project will be given Rwf500, 000, half of which will be a grant. The loan will be paid over a period of two years.

Those grouped in cooperatives will receive Rwf10 million, half of it as a grant.

Emmanuel Bayingana, the Vice Mayor of Kicukiro District, said; "The main purpose of this fund is to help them find occupations after graduating from rehabilitation centres. This will give hope to some of the former homeless delinquents and give them capital to start their projects.”

Subject to approval from National Employment Program (NEP) and Business Development Fund (BDF), the funds will be channelled through the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCO) in the form of materials.

Over 1743 delinquents graduated from Iwawa rehabilitation centre last month.

The plan, NRS said, involves engaging every delinquent participate in self-employment activities.

"I am happy for this strategy. It will not only help us to brainstorm and come up with different projects, but it will also give us a financial foundation that will make us productive citizens,” said Emmanuel Harelimana, one of the graduates from Iwawa Rehabilitation a Vocational Training Centre.

However, the scheme has been criticised for making collateral a requirement for accessing financing.

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