SteelRwa Industries Ltd, a local steel factory, presented local leaders of Rwamagana District with a contribution of 700 iron sheets worth Rwf6 million to help them build houses for disadvantaged residents in the district where the factory is also located.

SteelRwa provided this as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility through the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), a multi-stakeholder organisation made up of representatives from the public, private, and civil society organisations.

Around 65 vulnerable households in Rwamagana will benefit from the project, according to Jean Damascene Hagenimana, the district's Corporate Services Division Manager.

"It's part of the district's effort to construct decent houses for its people, but it wouldn’t be easy without contributions such as this," he continued, "the remaining 65 households out of the 265 we had at the beginning of this year will have their homes roofed thanks to SteelRwa's generosity."

According to Hagenimana, the households were selected because they were living in houses that did not meet the country's vision of minimum living standards, which includes standardized roofing.

The donation, according to Sandeep Phadnis, Managing Director of SteelRwa Industries Ltd, is one of many intended interventions to improve the livelihood of the factory's immediate community in Rwamagana.

"Shelter is a basic requirement for everyone, regardless of their social status. That is why, as a construction company, we felt it was important to contribute in this way," he said.

SteelRwa recently donated Rwf3 million to AVEGA, the Association of Genocide Widows Agahozo. "It was a sign of solidarity and to provide them with the emotional support that was greatly needed as Rwanda commemorates the 1994 genocide against Tutsi," Phadnis said.

"The factory has proven to be a dependable and helpful partner to the district in numerous other activities,” commented Hagenimana.

SteelRwa Industries Ltd was established in 2009. It has the capacity to produce about 3,000 tonnes of iron bars per month. It employs over 600 people, the majority from nearby communities, with others benefiting from the raw material supply.

Sandeep Phadnis, Managing Director of SteelRwa Industries Ltd hands over iron sheets to leaders to support  vulnerable residents .Courtesy

The support will be distributed among the most needy vulnerable residents in Rwamagana.Courtesy