Four Rwandan women have been selected to travel to Slovenia for a study visit next May, where they will present the situation of Rwandan women and girls, and the recent developments in the promotion of gender equality.

The four are Jackline Murungi and Jacqueline Uwamwiza both from the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre (NWC) and, Dinah Musindarwezo and Elise Uwase from the Rwanda Association of University Women (RAUW).

According to a RAUW statement, various social and cultural events will be organized in cooperation with the Slovenian African Centre.

Dr Jasminka Dedic of the Peace Institute of Slovenia (Slovenia-European Union) who is currently on a visit, says this is part of a two-year education and networking project of the two Rwandan partner organisations.

"Its main objectives are to establish contacts between Rwandan and Slovenian civil society organisations involved in the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality,” Dedic is quoted as saying in the statement.

They are also expected to exchange experiences and various practices in working with vulnerable groups of women, and to encourage Slovenian non-governmental organisations to get involved in development projects.

Dedic also revealed that empowerment and educational trainings with courses in entrepreneurship, tourism management, public relations, literacy and English language will be organized for the centre’s members and women from the local community.

Odette Mutanguha, the Acting President of RAUW welcomed the intiative and said that the visit will introduce Rwandan people and culture to the Slovenian media and the public, and sensitize them to gender and development issues.

RAUW’s mission is to provide opportunities for members and other women in Rwanda saying that the learning and the study visit is an excellent example of cooperation between Rwanda and Slovenia.

Equally, the statement says that this will be a double empowerment of NWC, which aims at strengthening the centre’s capacities so that members can initiate their own activities and promote gender equality by reaching out into the local community of Nyamirambo.

The Empowering NWC project began in January 2009 and has been financially endorsed by the Delegation of the European Commission to Rwanda and the Peace Institute from Slovenia.

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