Actionaid to support more women

Global charity organisation, Actionaid, has promised to provide more support to Rwandan women to ensure sustainable development.In an interview with The New Times yesterday in Nyanza District, Southern Province, the organisation’s Chief Executive, Joanna Kerr, who is on a tour of Actionaid supported projects in the country, appreciated the transformation of Rwandan women, thanks to the organisation’s partnership with the government. “Our role is to strengthen the local community. I have heard their issues and what they have achieved impressed me. We shall continue ensuring their capacity building to ensure they extend their development.”She noted that it was a big opportunity for women to understand their rights to fight Gender Based Violence advising them to always approach the national authorities for any basic need.Actionaid is a non-partisan international development ant-poverty agency that works in 45 countries in the world with aim of preventing poverty and fighting injustice, among others.Kerr further advised women to carry on working hard, saying that though she has travelled around the world, Rwandan women were exemplary.As part of her itinerary, she visited the home of an Actionaid beneficiary, Marie Grace Mukashema, of Nyamagana Cell, Busasamana Sector, who suffered abuse and was abandoned by her husband.The mother of four narrated that she had never been happy with her marriage life as her husband often assaulted her for only giving birth to girls. But since her separation, she now owns a house and a cow donated by Actionaid.Mukashema noted that the government assisted them to form a cooperative, Mpore, made up of 24 members.“I suffered a lot as my husband harassed me until I had to abandon my home with the kids. However, with support from Actionaid and government, today I am the president of our association through which I educate, counsel and help my colleagues”, she noted.She mentioned that members now know their rights which enable them to fight against gender based violence.Actionaid Country Director, Josephine Uwamariya, pointed out that they always monitor all the women they support to ascertain whether their lives have changed as well as providing them with support.“They have now gained confidence because we provide financial support and training and capacity building. Their lives have totally changed and we shall continue assisting them,” she said.Actionaid works in the five districts of Nyanza, Musanze Nyanza, Gisagara, Karongi and Nyaruguru. So far, 25,000 people have benefited from its activities. Kerr is today scheduled to meet Local Government minister James Musoni.

National

Actionaid to support more women