MUHANGA - The National Women Council (NWC), in the Southern Province, has unveiled a three-year plan, focusing on improving women’s social welfare and encouraging more women to join savings and credits schemes for economic empowerment.

The 2011-13 plan was unveiled during the group leaders’ assembly held in Muhanga district last Sunday.

The women leaders also celebrated the achievements registered in 2010 and said that the new strategic plan will enable women to attain a profound position in the development and growth of the Rwandan community.

Dr. Diane Gashumba, the president of the council, hailed the women in the province for elevating their gender.

"Women in the Southern Province portray a good image of the Rwandan woman. This example should be emulated by other provinces,” Gashumba said.

Annociata Kambayire, one of the provincial women leaders, noted that the outgoing Council had managed to elevate the status of women through various training programmes and awareness campaigns.

New women leaders will be elected, countrywide, next month, to replace the councils that have been in place for the last seven years.

"The new three-year strategic plan will enable the new committee to consolidate the achievements in areas of women emancipation, social empowerment and participation in leadership roles among others” Kambayire said.

The women also resolved to join the drive to eradicate grass thatched houses by building 10 new houses for their follow women in need.

They also promised to construct new headquarters for the provincial council.

The governor of the Southern Province, Fidel Ndayisaba, commended the women for the progress made and encouraged them to strive to improve women’s involvement in entrepreneurship, including bringing an end to gender based violence in the province.

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