Our work in Rwanda
Tearfund has been working in Rwanda since 1968. We currently work in 12 districts across the Southern and Eastern provinces and in Kigali, through a network of local churches.
Our work in Rwanda is focused on three specific objectives:
- Empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty through economically and environmentally sustainable work.
- Empowering women, young people and the elderly to improve their social and economic status.
- Building the capacity of local communities – including local partner organisations, churches and individuals – through advocacy and training.
We do this by working in the following areas:
Church and Community Transformation (CCT)
We equip church and community leaders to respond to the needs in their communities. Much of this is accomplished through self-help groups – regular meetings in the community for people who want to save money and increase their income.
More than 1,000 churches across Rwanda are engaged with our CCT work and, to date, more than 26,000 self-help group members have been equipped to start their own businesses. Groups also are trained in entrepreneurship and linked with financial service providers to grow their businesses.
Economic empowerment
We train families and individuals in environmentally sustainable farming practices which can increase both their harvests and their income. We also link them to markets where they can sell their produce at a fair price.
Adapting to climate change
We help people adapt and become resilient to the adverse effects of climate change. This includes training communities to protect and conserve natural resources such as forests and water sources.
Water, sanitation and hygiene
We help communities access clean water and provide them with sanitation facilities, including toilets and handwashing stations. We also help farmers access water systems for farming and irrigation purposes.
Addressing sexual and gender-based violence
Sexual and gender-based violence affects one in three girls and women in Rwanda. We are using our Transforming Masculinities programme to challenge harmful social norms and promote gender equality within families and communities.