What comes next in Rwanda

Three decades ago, Concern began working in Rwanda in response to the horrific genocide of 1994. Then, our aim was to reach hundreds of thousands of survivors with food, shelter, healthcare, and the practical support they needed to begin to reestablish their lives and some sense of normalcy following the events of April 1994. 

Thirty years on, we remain in Rwanda, but our work has changed. The country has made remarkable progress since 1994, but chronic malnutrition and poverty still remain key issues. As of 2023, 47.4% of the population live below the poverty line, and the World Bank expects these numbers to increase by 2025.

Fighting poverty in Rwanda

Concern has been supporting communities hit hardest by poverty in Rwanda with our innovative Graduation program. 

Developed in 2002 by the Bangladeshi NGO Building Resources Across Communities (now known as BRAC, Graduation is a holistic approach that helps participants identify their interests and skills so they can find meaningful ways to sustainably “graduate” out of poverty. It also provides families cash transfers, coaching and mentoring, access to financial services, and business skills training — the essential tools, resources, and opportunities they need to improve their lives and secure their livelihoods.

Between 2017 and 2022, Concern worked with 2,700 families in the southern district of Gisagara who participated in Graduation. In early 2023, we took the next step, launching Green Graduation, which aims to reach an additional 1,200 families across two districts. Here are just some of the people behind those numbers. 

“A skill that doesn’t age”: Alexia’s story

Life used to be very difficult for mother-of-three Alexia. She struggled to pay school fees for her two eldest children, leading them to miss out on classes. She would work on the farm as a casual laborer to earn money, but even when she managed to scrape together an income, she was unable to put money aside for anything unexpected, like medicine for illnesses or new school supplies.

In 2019, Alexia and her family were selected for Concern’s Graduation program. As part of the project, Alexia learned about several income-generating activities, and decided that she would like to train as a tailor. With support from Concern, she invested in a sewing machine and received lessons. Now, she makes up to 20 outfits a week for customers, and has developed five different patterns for women’s fashions — as well as making men’s shirts. 

“I chose sewing because it’s a skill that doesn't age and it’s a good way to earn a living,” Alexia explained. “I have children and it will be easy for them to pick it up too. I paid to learn these skills, but now, I will be able to teach my children myself. The business makes money every minute and every hour. I’m able to save some money and to take care of my children.”

“I have dreams for my children.… It's going well. I'm happy in my heart.” — Alexia Mukashyaka, 40

As well as training in sewing, Alexia bought land to grow and cultivate rice. Last year she harvested over 660 pounds of rice, which she split between her family and those who worked on the land. She also owns a cow, three chickens, and two sheep, which ensure that her children have plenty of milk and eggs to eat and drink. “If it weren't for the program, I would be so poor. I would be low,” she says. “Life was not good. There’s a change. I save so that if my child needs books tomorrow, I can go to the savings group to borrow money. If they need uniforms, I make them myself. There’s a difference from before.”

Now, Alexia has her sights set on growing her business. She’s taking lessons in hairdressing, and hopes to expand her tailoring business to include a salon. “I have dreams for my children,” she says. “I will keep on saving so that my son who’s in secondary school goes on for mechanical studies. My daughter and I will work together in the salon and she will be next to me.” She adds: “It’s going well. I’m happy in my heart.”

“Even when some things don’t go well…we continue on”: Anonciata’s story

Anonciata and her five sons were forced to leave their home, which was in an area at risk for landslides. While they found shelter to rent, the whole family slept in just one room, with nowhere to wash or cook a meal. 

Their situation improved after Anonciata was chosen for the Graduation program in 2020. Concern helped her to build a new house for her family, as well as providing the training and support to build further resilience.

Anonciata says: “After we moved in, [Concern] continued supporting us, the activities kept going. We learned about savings and loan groups. We continued with that group — it was so helpful. We received more training about how to care for our families, our children. They taught us how to cook a balanced meal so that our children have good nutrition. We received business and agricultural training and also how to take care of livestock. Then, we received money to buy livestock and to put into practice what we had learned. We've done everything we learned.”

When discussing the Graduation program, it is clear that the village savings and loan association (VSLA) is the element that has made the biggest difference to Anonciata’s life. She is the accountant of her local VSLA, which is made up of 15 people, and she has been able to borrow from the group to rent land — thus providing her with crops to sell at market. 

“There are a lot of things that the group can help you with. The savings group helps us in good and bad situations.” — Anonciata Niyitegeka, 60

“The savings group helped us a lot,” Anonciata explains. “We’re able to rent land so we can grow crops. We have learned to use fertilizer. The fertilizer from our livestock helps us with our harvests. Even when some things don’t go well, such as when some of our livestock died, we continue on. We aren't discouraged. We have goats, rabbits and pigs. Whatever crops we grow, we can harvest. That’s how the group is proceeding. We are still helping each other.”

Anonciata adds that her local VSLA helps members pay for health insurance, school meals, and uniforms for their children. “Whenever you have an issue, you can borrow some money. If you need to rent a plot of land, you can borrow money and then as you farm you can repay it slowly. Some of us didn't have electricity in our houses. But we were able to buy electricity so that we have light. When you need fertilizer, you can borrow money from the savings group. If you have an issue at the hospital, you can depend on the savings group to help. You buy clothes if you need them. 

“There are a lot of things that the group can help you with. The savings group helps us in good and bad situations.”

“I will be an important person one day.”: Theogene’s story

Among the youngest participants in Concern’s new Green Graduation program are 16-year-old Theogene and his 12-year-old brother. Eight years ago, the two were left to live on their own, with Theogene serving as caregiver for his younger brother. 

“Sometimes, it's hard to find food. But there's no other way,” Theogene told us as he began Green Graduation. “Things are not going well. I tell my little brother to go to sleep. Then the next morning, I will go and look for a job so that he gets food and doesn’t starve. And I search. If someone sends me to fetch water, I go. If it's for firewood, I go and get it so that I can feed my little brother, so that we continue living this life. When I eat, it gives me strength to take care of my brother until he is grown up. I always put a lot of energy into caring for him.”

Theogene and his brother previously lived in a small house, but it was destroyed by heavy rains. Thankfully, their community is very supportive, and helped them rebuild their shelter with iron sheets. They also give Theogene regular small jobs in exchange for food or a share of their harvest.

Theogene plans to use the assistance from the Green Graduation program to buy livestock and send his brother to school. He will let neighbors use the manure from his livestock, “because they helped me when I was in need.”

“When I was selected, it gave me hope to take care of my brother,” Theogene adds. “It will enable me to send my brother to school. It will help me renovate this house. It will give me an opportunity to start a business to sell things. If I receive support, I will buy livestock, like a cow or goat. I will be able to buy soap instead of wearing dirty clothes, and buy shoes, books and a uniform for my brother for school.

“Being selected for the program has brought me hope for the future.” — Theogene Niyogisubizo, 16

“When I have a business, I will have a cow and other livestock and will use the opportunity of having manure to help cultivate cassava, beans, and millet. And once we have a harvest, we will keep some and sell the rest at market.”

Theogene is using this support not only to provide immediate care to his brother, but to give back to the community and build a future for his family. “I am happy. Being selected for the program has brought me hope for the future. I will be an important person one day. I will help other people who aren't able to be part of this program. I will support them. I will tell them about how Concern helped me, and that I now have something to give back to them.”

Concern in Rwanda

Concern has worked in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide. Since then, truly remarkable progress has been made. However, chronic malnutrition and poverty still exist, with 47.4% of the population living below the poverty line. The country is ranked 161 out of 193 countries in the UN's 2024 Human Development Index.

Currently, Concern supports communities in Rwanda with our Graduation Program. With the provision of cash transfers, coaching and mentoring, access to financial services, and business skills training, participants are equipped with the tools, resources and opportunities to improve their lives and secure their livelihoods and incomes. Between 2017 and 2022, 2,700 families in the southern district of Gisagara took part in Graduation. Our new Green Graduation Program launched in early 2023, and aims to reach 1,200 families living in extreme poverty across two districts.

Concern is also supporting the most vulnerable families in Rwanda's Southern Province to improve their food and nutrition security The project has a particular focus on Climate Smart Agriculture and agroforestry, ensuring that the food produced and income generated can be sustainable long into the future.

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