Social cohesion is being built between the refugees of Nyabiheke, in the Gatsibo district, and the host community thanks to the support of the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC). Three projects-agriculture, livestock and sewing-favour a good cohabitation but also improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries.
A year ago, the RRC launched three projects for Congolese refugees in Nyabiheke and the host community. Palpable results are beginning to be recorded.
“The RRC offered us a fund of 9 million Rwandan francs, we are 71 members, 56 of whom are from the host community and 15 refugees, and we have bought three plots of land. We have harvested 3 tons of maize,” says Saidi Nshimiyimana, president of the Twisungane Nyabicwamba cooperative.
“Now the refugees know how to farm, we visit each other, social relations are good,” he says. “During the harvest of the A & B season, we give the members a part of the harvest, so they can pay for health insurance, buy a goat, clothes, …” he shows the impact of the agriculture project where maize is grown alternately with beans on the same soil.
Immaculée Uwimana, a 42-year-old Congolese refugee, can already save money. “In Congo, the culture of saving did not exist. Now we save in SACCO, a savings and credit cooperative, I have a personal account,” she says. “The money we earned from our crops has allowed us to expand our land,” she says. Initially the cooperative bought 2.5 hectares with support from the RRC. The members added 1 hectare with their production.
“Now we have food, our children have enough to eat,” adds the woman who has a 12-year-old son.
Livestock breeding brings hope…
Not far from this farmers’ cooperative is another of the breeders. There are 52 members. Of these, 20 belong to the host community and 32 are refugees from Masisi in the DRC.
“The RRC has given us support of 14.115 million Rwandan francs. We have built stables, bought 15 cows, water tanks and 2.5 hectares of cultivable land,” says Etienne Ndangamiyumukiza, president of the Twitezimbere mu bworozi cooperative. “For a livestock project, you can’t immediately find benefits. But today we have manure and some heifers… we hope to reap a lot of fruits from this venture in the future,” he explains. The members of this cooperative have benefited from training. They now know how to preserve fodder for livestock.
Daily income from sewing
The Rwandan Red Cross has enabled the refugees and the host community to set up a sewing cooperative “Twitezimbere Abadozi Gatsibo cooperative.”
Chance Ingabire, a 30-year-old refugee, is pleased. “With the cooperative, I sew for men and women. I earn 2,500 Rwandan francs a day, I can feed my family, buy clothes and help my neighbours in need,” says the mother of three.
The cooperative’s sewing workshop is equipped with 16 mechanical sewing machines, six electric machines for sewing boubous and two others for sewing buttons.
The project has 56 members, including 30 refugees and 26 Rwandans from the host community.
“Associating with the host community has improved our relationship with the nationals. Before, they were seen as better off than us. I have noticed that we are living in the same conditions,” confirms Chance Ingabire of the social cohesion achieved through the three projects supported by the RRC.
According to Emmanuel Mazimpaka, Director of Communication and Humanitarian Diplomacy at the RRC, these projects were chosen by the beneficiaries. The latter were designated by the grassroots authorities among the most vulnerable.
Reforestation around Nyabiheke camp
In order to preserve the environment and promote good agricultural production, the RRC financially supported the reforestation of 10 hectares around the camp. The species distributed are those that can cohabit with crops such as fruit trees.
Houses and toilets have been built. Volunteers provide first aid to the sick before transferring them to the health facilities. Similar projects have been initiated in the Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe district.
Gérard Rugambwa
