The international day of rural women is celebrated every year on the 15^th October. This year, under the theme “Rural Women and Girls Building Climate Resilience”, Anet Kakibibi, JDAF of Karongi district and Diane Hirwa Ingabire, the field officer of the “Speak Out” project joined the community in Murundi sector of Karongi district to celebrate with the international day of girl child which stand on the 11^th.

We started the day fighting back malnutrition with Umuganda where kitchen gardens were made as a way to encourage rural women to eat a balanced diet,. Then through dances, sketches and poems, the “Speak out” beneficiaries sponsored by UKAID through ACTIONAID implemented by Association des Guides du Rwanda (AGR) and Faith Victory Association (FVA) requested the participants a strong partnership to protect them from Gender Based Violence and shared some acquired skills from safe spaces about sexual and Reproductive health.  

Rural women who attended the ceremony also indicated a journey towards their development due to different trainings they have been attending on how they can be successful. “I had a challenge of fetching water very far from my home, and I was old, I had no physical energy. I joined SACCO, and took a loan of ninety thousands and brought water at home. I am now safe, I have access to clean water thanks to the loan I had from the bank” one women reports.

Marie Murekatete  indicated that after being given a cow, she was able to pay the school fees for her children and they have all graduated and some got jobs. In addition, the car helped her to get fertilizers for farming, now, she no longer complain of poverty.

Anet Kakibibi, a staff member of both Karongi district and ACTIONAID assigned to improve the lives of women recognized the influence of His Excellency Paul Kagame of making sure that women are empowered, valued and participate in every aspect. Theophile Niragire, the vice mayor of Karongi district in charge of economy showed that women nowadays are quite different with women of the past. He gave examples of the activities which were thought to be done by only men but which are now being done by women as well. He also requested rural women to take advantage over the chance they were given, work hard and contribute to the country’s development.