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Gender, livelihoods and climate resilience in Bugesera District

Gesturing in the workshop is the Executive Director of GER-Rwanda Mr. Innocent Musore. He was addressing a workshop at Bugesera District which was supported by AFD and ACORD recently.

By Mr. Grace Mugabe, University Lecturer, Researcher and Communications expert Great Lakes Region

The Executive Director of GER- Rwanda Mr. Innocent Musore lauded the AFD and ACORD-Rwanda for decent partnership, highlighted the aim of Feminists for Climate and Environment Alternatives (FACE) project.

He outlined different pillars which he said are vital, including; Increasing access to economic livelihoods, promoting participation in decision-making through changes in mindset, skills, and actions, raising awareness about biodiversity and environmental conservation through climate action as well as advocacy.  He told over 40participants that the work which the partners have done has been extravaganza, and pledged to continue partnering with them to safe guard the community.

Participants attending a workshop in Bugesera District recently

For her Part Madam Beatha appreciated the way the project impacted; “They started giving us training. After the training, we immediately started making fertilizer. We used the fertilizer on our gardens and the yield instantly increased”, she said, adding that as a group we have good fertilizer, each member makes it at home and also makes a kitchen garden for others.  She said it helped her to become influential in the district because when there are sector contracts regarding supplying fertilizer, the sector officials instantly invite her to supply fertilizer and to help teach others as well. Six women were trained from Juru Sector and used the chance to form a group of 106 people, who were able to make fertilizer for each member at home”, Beath said.

Another beneficiary by names of Dative, who was also trained from the same project, had this to say. “After the training, I did a test and applied a small amount of fertilizer to a small field to see the yield. I got a good yield. Then I applied more and planted tomatoes on a huge area since I saw in the group that there were traders who would work with me in Bugesera. After the tomatoes were harvested, I took them to Kabuga market.

I was lucky enough to meet people who had a machine to measure the amount of fertilizer we used to grow. This helped me find a market. Also, after finding the market in Kabuga, I met other investors who told me that the fertilizer I use is very good and is called “macadamia”. Now, the profits I made from tomatoes, I decided to plant macadamia.

Therefore, from those tomatoes, I immediately used the compost and made a huge profit margin amount to 2.8 million Rwandan francs. I also changed my mindset because when I am going to cut down forests, I first seek for permission from the sector officials. After completing the training, my husband and I made compost and we grew vegetables using the compost. I got a good harvest. This allowed me to earn money by selling 70k per month. Because of the training we received, we now have a group with other women, we were given stoves made up of woods, which helped us a lot as we used to pay a lot for firewood. It has decreased significantly and speeded up the work of women as the burden on them decreased.

POSITIVE CHANGES ENABLE WOMEN SHINE GLOBLY  

Participants pose for a group photo in Bugesera District

As reported by the district official, poor environment protection causes severe hunger, and women are prone to such catastrophic consequences since there are responsible for everything. It was also reported that poor environmental protection causes conflicts, poverty and at the same time forces women into bad habits such as; sexual immorality. Moreso, poor hygiene goes on to affect women since they need clean water.

The district officer commended GER-RWANDA for its drive-in supporting women in environmental science. He urged them to be in a position to teach others which can have a direct impact on citizens.  It was Recommended that villages be sensitized so that they could match on the same page with others on gender environmental education to safe guard the whole society. He advised participants not to dishearten GER-RWANDA for the good job it has done to the country. “Whoever helps a woman helps the world”, he said.

GER’s mission is to support the peacebuilding process and improving livelihood through ecosystem conservation in Rwanda and Beyond with focus in post conflicts countries.

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