Réseau Culturel Sangwa organized different sessions of capacity building program and created opportunities, which helped vulnerable families to improve their livelihoods. It sensitized and mobilized the Youth, women and men on Promotion of associative spirit, Micro Projects and Cooperatives management, Entrepreneurship, Financial education, and then initiate groups of Voluntary Saving and Loans Activities (VSLAs).
In this domain, Reseau Culturel Sangwa (R.C.S) targeted 148 teen and young mothers and 83 vulnerable women in Musanze, Rwamagana and Gatsibo Districts.
The followings are projects' achievements:
- Creation of a space for exchange and mutual support between 83 vulnerable women, 148 teen and young mothers including their parents with various actors;
- Beneficiaries’ self-resilience and self-confidence increased;
- Ownership of beneficiaries in constitution of their own funds via VSLAs groups;
- 80% of young mothers benefiting from the projects improved their economic situation due to the practice of professional training and the revolving fund granted by Plan International and Melania Foundation, which now generate income for them.
- Networking between young mothers and the financial institutions, which helped them to access the capital and to start-up their income generating activities.
Some of the activities that were initiated by beneficiaries:
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- Trade in food products, selling of clothes, shoes, cosmetic products, soft drinks, etc.
- Rearing chickens, rabbits and pigs.
- Agri business through leased fields.
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- 90% of young mothers contribute to the reduction of family expenses, especially the primary needs for themselves and children as well;
- 33% of young mothers and parents (76/231) have a good relationship with financial institutions (they opened up savings accounts and they are active on savings and credits culture);
- “EJO HEZA/Bright Future“ from Gacaca Sector, Musanze District, composed of 20 vulnerable women, “Abunzubumwe group” and “Ubumwe club” from Rwimbogo, Gatsibo District, composed respectively of 50 girls and 68 people males and females, and “Twongere Umusaruro Cooperative” of Munyaga Sector, Rwamagana District composed by 80 people, initiated savings and credits culture in their respective communities.
- 5 cows and 115 goats distributed to vulnerable women in Musanze, Rwamagana and Gatsibo Districts are contributing to improve their socio and economic conditions. The owners are testifying having improved their lives through the economic growth and benefits from the breeding of large and small livestock which produce manure for agriculture products and money used to satisfy their basic needs and children as well (food, clothes, cosmetics, health insurance, school fees,…).
- There is a better social and economic integration of 231 beneficiaries targeted by R.C.S interventions through initiation of multiple businesses.
- 48 teen and young mothers from Rwimbogo Sector have received professional trainings at “Sangwa Center”, and have been equipped with tailoring and knitting machines, hairdressing and handcrafts material to launch productive site at Rwikiniro center.
