Duhozanye, an association of Genocide widows in Gisagara District, has embarked on expanding its self-reliance campaign activities to other districts of the Southern Province. The association, which was set up with no tangible assets, now boasts the strides it has made in improving the welfare of its members. The association started with 330 members after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi but now has over 3,000 members consisting of widows and orphans grouped into 60 groups. Draphrose Mukarutamu, the association’s chairperson, said they help members identify development projects that can benefit them and help refine and monitor them. They have so far managed to build houses for 330 members in the former Shyanda commune (current Gisagara District) and distributed over 400 cows among members. Some carry out farming activities, with nine groups each having a three hectare coffee plantation in Save, Gisagara. Orphans make up Abatangana Cooperative that is involved in the knitting business. Duhozanye has since given birth to Duhozanye Ltd, which is the distributor of BRALIRWA products in Gisagara and surrounding areas. “We are moving ahead in achieving self-reliance, are not begging,” Mukarutamu said. She pointed out that their gains so far is what motivates them to work hard. “We started from scratch after the Genocide. But now that we have good governance in the country, we hope that our achievements will motivate us and the orphans to work even harder for a better future,” she noted. Mukarutamu said they now offer resource generation and management skills and how to run profitable projects to other survivors’ associations. During a self-reliance event in Mbazi Sector, Huye earlier this week, Duhozanye in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and the Fund for Assistance for Genocide Survivors (FARG), gave five cows to Abihanganye, an association of Genocide widows in Mbazi Sector. Another 15 cows will be given out soon; five to survivors in Mbazi Sector and 10 in Ruhashya Sector in Huye, where Duhozanye intends to take its activities, according to officials. Duhozanye is also planning to launch its activities to Nyaruguru District. It has been involved in training other survivors from the Southern and Western provinces in resource management and self-reliance programme. “Duhozanye has made a breakthrough in self-reliance. The association now supports other Genocide survivors,” said Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, the Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs. Seraphine Mukakarambizi, one of the beneficiaries, said: “I was worried about how I could get a cow and get milk like others since I could not afford it. But now, with this cow, my family will no longer lack milk and fertilisers for our crops,” she said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
