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rural community center
GICUMBI, Gatsibo, Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza | RWANDA
overview
AVSI RWANDA is seeking to integrate AVSI’s successful Graduation Approach for at-risk, women-led households in rural communities.
about
AVSI Rwanda has been in operation since 1994. In the months immediately following infamous Rwandan genocide, UNICEF asked AVSI to assist in the international response.
Ever since then, AVSI Rwanda has continued to focus on the needs of children, youth and rural communities with a holistic approach that favors the development of local solutions to pressing needs.
Today, AVSI Rwanda works in 17 districts in the country, with multi-sectoral programs and a range of donors and institutional support.
challenge
Inter-generational poverty in Rwanda is due in large part to adolescent girls who become mothers at a young age. When a girl gets pregnant, she generally drops out of school and faces steep barriers to stability, including social exclusion and loss of economic support. Sadly, many will become trapped in lifestyles involving addiction, theft, domestic servitude, trafficking and prostitution. In addition, serious health issues often go untreated while children suffer grave deficiencies in physical and emotional development.
Fortunately, AVSI in Rwanda has developed a successful community-based approach to strengthen at risk women-led households. Those inroads, combined with our Graduation Approach, which has proven effective in neighboring Uganda and Kenya, promise a viable path towards increased stability, well-being and self-reliance.
partnership
Since 2010, AVSI-USA has partnered with AVSI Rwanda to strengthen outreach and social-educational activities. Traditionally, AVSI works directly with communities and individuals, empowering people to become protagonists of their own futures. In Rwanda, AVSI supports Urinzira Community Centers and Urubohero women’s groups.
Urinzira centers bring together local resources from the health sector (clinics and hospitals), the social sector (schools), and the public sector (local government leaders) into one collaborative platform accessible to the entire village, including the most marginalized. Urubohero groups help women form cooperatives, provide safe places where women can share experiences and take advantage of activities for children while moms make artisanal, income-generating products.
AVSI is actively seeking US partners to support integration of these various community resources into a Graduating to Resilience program to strengthen vulnerable, women-led household in rural Rwanda.
results
- 5 Urinzira Community Centers provide socio-educational activities for 500 children.
- 14 Uruhobero women’s groups support 400 women with economic strengthening activities such as artisan cooperatives and savings groups and psycho-social support.
other resources
local contact
LORETTE BIRARA | AVSI COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE
KIMIHURURA - RUGANDO
(VILLE DE KIGALI)
PARCELLE 773
B.P. 3185
Lorette.Birara@AVSI.org
US contact
EMAIL BARBARA GAGLIOTTI AT Barbara.Gagliotti@AVSI.org
