By Nicolette Nsabimana | Executive Director
What happened on Women’s International Day?
March 8th was Women’s International Day! The Centre Marembo Organization, its partners, stakeholders and Friends of CMO, together with the young mothers, celebrated with this year’s theme, “Gender equality in fighting against Climate change .” We looked at different ways women and girls are tackling on the topics of climate change adaptation and mitigation from around the world, including here in Rwanda by listening to powerful leaders and change-makers in creating a more sustainable environment.
The highlight on the theme “Gender equality in fighting against Climate change” explains how impoverished women are vulnerable climatic changes due to their dependence on natural resources, mainly agricultural, as their main source of income. On top of that, covid-19 added more pressure on increasing inequalities, violence, and driving women and girls into poverty. Because of these driving factors, it heavily impacted on the progress of their employment, education and health.
The following topics were also discussed: the ways of survival women and girls must need while facing societal challenges, the need to be reintegrated back into society, securing both their education and their future, and becoming both contributors and producers to the development of their families and the country.
By the end of the day beneficiaries of Centre Marembo were invited to participate in the Voice of Girls’ program on Imanzi FM local radio station to share their testimonies on being a single parent at such a young age, the traumatic experiences they’ve been through and the solutions to overcome such challenges. We received a lot of positive response and constructive feedback from the audience.
Resume activities of the Agro-pastoral
Good news everyone! We have finally resumed our agro-pastoral activities early this year!
As you may have all know, back in June 2020, the pandemic impacted heavily on our socio-economic and income-generating activities. After 15 months of postponement, we have resumed the farming activities, with the purchase of 1,065 few weeks old chicks to generate egg production to provide a source of protein to malnourished children and beneficiaries, and serving as income-generating activity.
The agro-farming activity has been running for 4 months now, with all the hens grown up! It will take another month for them to start laying the eggs.
To explain the costs behind raising chicken livestock: Approximately it costs somewhere between 1,000-2,000 RWF (0.99 USD-1.99 USD, or 0.75 GBP-1.75 GBP) per unit chick; in result, we have spent 1,200,000 RWF was spent for 1,065 chicks (approx. 1,190 USD, or 900 GBP) for our agro-pastoral project. As for feeding the chicks, a bag of chicken feed costs 24,000 RWF (approximately 17 GBP or 23 USD) daily; we normally purchase 10 bags of chicken feed that lasts for 10 days, costing to about 240,000 FRWS (approximately 175 GBP or 231 USD).
A surprise visit on 5th of March
A group of seven people visited Centre Marembo with a generous donation of various items, such as clothes, food, juice, milk, menstrual pads,etc. The group not only donated, but as well paid medical insurances for 20 of the young mothers of Centre Marembo, including their children. Centre Marembo is truly grateful for this act of kindness and that momentous day will forever engrave in our hearts.
16 Days of Activism 2021
Centre Marembo and the beneficiaries joined with the Gasabo district on 10th of December 2021 to spread awareness of 2021's theme of anti-GBV campaign: “Speak Out! End Gender-Based Violence.” Authorities, private sectors and others were invited and Centre Marembo's Executive Director, Nicolette Nsabimana, shared a speech to encourage the young mothers and girls within the public to participate in non-traditional work.
The audience listened to the testimonies given by Centre Marembo beneficiaries, who themselves are affected by GBV. Not only did the same GBV victims shared their experiences towards the Gasabo district, they themselves also participated in several radio stations to spread encouraging messages to bring awareness of GBV to the radio listeners.
Final Note:
Centre Marembo would like to express deepest gratitude to you all for making such an impact on our community. Oure perseverance is not only thanks to its staff members, the local communities and local entities, but to YOU as well: the supporters who believe in our cause. We appreciate following our progress throughout these challenging two years.
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