GATSIBO - COPROLIZ-NTENDE, a rice cooperative in Rugarama sector, Gatsibo district was on Wednesday awarded by the Ministry of Labour as the best performing cooperative in the district.

The cooperative received a certificate of merit and Rwf500, 000 for being an outstanding cooperative in the district, following an evaluation that was carried out by the ministry.

Handing over the award at cooperative’s offices in Rugama sector, Anne Mugabo, Officer  in charge of labour in the Ministry hailed the cooperative for being exemplary.

She explained that the Ministry selected COPROLIZ  basing on three main items that included value addition, innovation and knowledge transfer.

She further thanked the cooperative for uplifting the livelihoods of area residents. ‘The employment opportunities and other opportunities brought by the cooperative helped many residents in this village to drastically come out of rampant poverty that affects the development of the country…,’ she said.  

James Karangwa, the cooperative president attributed their successes to respect of labour laws and hard work.
Marie Goreti Cyamuzaza, one of the beneficiaries of the cooperative testified how the cooperative uplifted her standard of living.

‘I could hardly manage to buy food. But after joining this cooperative, life has really changed…I can now manage to feed my family and save for the future,’ she said.

Financed by the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP), COPROLIZ has since its inception in 2003, registered 1,042 members.  

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