World Vision Rwanda in partnership with the UNHCR, Caritas Rwanda, and the Ministry for Emergency Management on Wednesday, November 17th launched the Poverty Alleviation Coalition (PAC) project in Huye District.

Through a funding from the US, the project aims at empowering refugees and host communities in Gisagara, Karongi Nyamagabe, Gatsibo and Kirehe districts and it will be implemented across five refugee camps namely; Mahama, Mugombwa, Kigeme, Kiziba, and Nyabiheke. 

With a budget of over $5 million, the project will ensure 2,100 refugee households and 900 host community households are given financial support to enhance their ability to become self-reliant and contribute to the social and economic landscapes of Rwanda by 2024.

The project that will be implemented by World Vision and Caritas Rwanda targets 11,570 people from 3,000 households, of which 30 percent are host communities.

Speaking to the stakeholders at the event last week, World Vision Rwanda’s Acting Integrated Programmes Director, Gemma Mukandekezi, said: "Through the PAC project activities, we shall be able to address the pressing needs of children in the refugee camps and their host communities to enable them to fulfil their God-given potential through improved livelihoods.”

The Executive Secretary of Southern Province, Parfait Busabiza, who was representing the Southern Province Governor, applauded World Vision for ensuring clean water accessibility to local residents and the socio-economic development of the refugees, their host communities and country at large.

Busabiza was also optimistic on the new project, saying that it will address different problems present in refugee camps and the host communities.

"We all know the gravity of the sufferings that refugees often encounter when there is not enough support provided to them. Hence, supporting their socio-economic development will reduce teenage pregnancies, theft, malnutrition and domestic violence among other issues that come as a result of unemployment,” he added.

He also urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity availed to them.

Chrysostome Sebarambe, the Head of Executive Committee of Kigeme Refugee Camp in Nyamagabe hailed this initiative and said that it is coming not only to facilitate refugees, but also their host communities.

"As 30 percent of the beneficiaries will be from the host communities, we hope that this project will ease pressure on the communities and influence the social cohabitation present between us,” he asserted.