Two groups of young people, “Youth Leaders” and “Peace Ambassadors” have started working with the support of UNHCR, GIZ and the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC) in Mahama sector, Kirehe district to share their destiny. They are made up of Burundian refugees and Rwandans from the host community.
The first group, “Youth leaders”, includes 18 young Burundian refugees from the Mahama camp and 12 young Rwandans from the host community.
With the support of the High Commissioner for Refugees, GIZ, the organization in charge of German cooperation, and the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC), this group of young people received equipment for a hairdressing salon worth 3 million frws.
“We offered this hairdressing salon to “Youth leaders” to encourage them in their action of mobilizing their peers against drug consumption, unwanted pregnancies and sensitization deserters for the return to school,” reveals Gilbert Ufitabe, Local Peace Advisor, working for the RRC with GIZ funding.
Dieudonné Kwizera, a young Burundian refugee, shows that they have the ambition to start another hairdressing salon. It will be located in their camp where they will be the first to initiate such a project.
“Next year, another hairdressing salon will be created in Mahama camp from the revenues we are recording. Outside the camp there is competition. But inside, our salon will be the first to be set up,” says Dieudonné Kwizera.
According to Fulgence Mbarushimana, from the host community, this project is feasible because they save money every month. In the case of Burundian members who return to their country, each receives a sum of ten thousand Rwandan francs. “Three Burundian members of ‘Youth Leaders’ have already returned to their country. We have given each one 10,000 Rwf,” he says. “Our association has allowed us to get to know each other. We also exchange on our challenges,” he adds.
Peace ambassadors run a mill
The 50 peace ambassadors have a mill for the production of cassava flour. They earn 40,000 francs a month after paying all the bills. They have 300,000 frws saved in their bank account. The goal is to start producing maize flour.
“We need 400,000 frws to start producing maize flour, which is very popular in the region,” says Zachée Sekamana. “We are confident about our future,” he adds.
Vincent Nshimiyimana, president of the Rwandan Red Cross in Kirehe district, agrees. “The dynamo that powers the cassava flour mill is very powerful. It can be used to run another mill to produce maize flour,” he says.
The ambition of Peace Ambassadors is to help other young people who are not members to overcome their difficulties.
Gérard Rugambwa
