CARE Rwanda Newsletter Issue 2
This newsletter issue celebrates CARE Rwanda’s 40th anniversary, highlighting its enduring commitment to transformative impact from early environmental initiatives like planting over 3.5 million trees and providing clean water to 70,000 people. It features the successful conclusion of the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Project (GEWEP III), which reached over 274,000 direct beneficiaries and improved women’s financial empowerment, alongside achievements of the Developing Entrepreneurship and Literacy in Rwanda (DEAL) project. The newsletter also showcases the SERVE project, funded by Mastercard Foundation, which creates dignified employment in agriculture for youth, and spotlights CARE’s Nexus programming, bridging humanitarian assistance with sustainable development for refugees, all made possible by the unwavering support of partners and donors.
Powered by Women in Rwanda
The Powered by Women in Rwanda program aims to improve equality for 161,047 women and girls in Rwanda. CARE, along with its implementing partners, will strengthen the ability of women, girls, and Civil Society Actors (CSAs) to address critical barriers to women’s economic growth, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) prevention.
Gender Equality and Resilient (GEAR) Project
The Gender Equality and Resilient (GEAR) project is a 5-year joint strategic partnership involving CARE Rwanda, CARE Uganda, and CARE Austria, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Despite Rwanda’s progress, challenges like growing urbanization, climate crisis impacts, inequalities faced by women and girls, and poverty persist.
Supporting and Enhancing Resilient and Viable Employment Opportunities (SERVE)
The SERVE project aims to build a resilient, sustainable, equitable for women and girls, and inclusive entrepreneurial environment that increases dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people, particularly young women, in agricultural value chains across Rwanda. It addresses the challenge of insufficient productive employment for Rwanda’s growing youth population, with about 78% of Rwandans being under 35 years old.
Growing More Than Food: A mother’s nutrition journey
Meet Mutuyimana Jacqueline from the rolling hills of Gicumbi district’s Mutete sector. As a young mother with a one-year-old child, she once struggled with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of providing proper nutrition. Like many rural mothers, Jacqueline’s understanding of nutrition was limited. Meals were simple and repetitive, typically consisting of sweet potatoes, manioc and whatever local crops were available. The Kungahara project was launched in 2024 to help adress the knowledge gap.
Kungahara Project
The Kungahara project, is a project financially supported by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency, implemented by CARE (CARE Austria and CARE Rwanda), in partnership with DUHARANIRA AMAJYAMBERE Y’ICYARO (DUHAMIC-ADRI). This project aims to significantly contribute to resilient food systems and improved food and nutrition security in Rwanda.
Addressing Uncertainties to Empower Young Women: A GEWEP III Story
Angelique Benimana, who is 19 years old lives in Tare sector of Nyamagabe district in the Southern province of Rwanda. She had just completed her senior two studies when life took its turn and she could not continue her education.
From Subsistence to Success: Supporting a farmer’s dreams
Nsabimana Jean Marie Vianney was like many in his community – a subsistence farmer who didn’t see agriculture as a viable profession. To make ends meet, he worked as a seasonal bricklayer and took on other various odd jobs. His agricultural efforts remained unstructured and unprofitable, trapping him in a cycle of subsistence living with little opportunity for growth.
Helping adolescents harness their potential: Assinata’s journey.
At 13, Assinata dropped out of school, ostensibly to handle household chores after her elder sisters married. However, the real reason was her giving in to peer pressure to escape her home and go to look for a job as a house girl. Through GEWEP III, CARE Rwanda and partners have helped her to reconnect with her family and also help her with saving skills, supporting her for self sustainance.
Investing in Home-Grown Solutions: SERVE Project Awards 286M RWF to Youth Agricultural Innovators
The SERVE Project awarded strategic grants to youth-led enterprises, focusing on innovations and home-grown solutions. The competitive program received 475 applications across four funding categories and distributed 286,000,000 Rwandan Francs among 47 selected businesses to drive sustainable agricultural business development and enhance resilience in the sector.
