The project, which began in January 2018, is aimed at the mothers of the children who attend our Amahoro Nursery School and offers them, who live in highly vulnerable economic and social conditions, the possibility both of receiving professional training and, subsequently, of entering the job market. The importance of the intervention lies in the fact that, in addition to the economic benefits, all of them acquire autonomy and decision-making power, essential tools to escape the many and repeated forms of gender-based violence they suffer, especially domestic violence.
The project, now in its fourth replication, has demonstrated its undoubted effectiveness in offering a concrete solution to the problems deriving from situations of extreme poverty. and, following her continuous monitoring and evaluation of the results, the association decided to involve their husbands as well. This solution is able to achieve two important objectives: to avoid the emergence of attitudes of revenge and anger on the part of men, as a consequence of their strong feeling of frustration in the face of women’s autonomy, and to reduce gender-based violence very widespread also in Rwanda, favoring a climate of possible collaboration within the couple.
The project fits into the programmatic lines of economic development and the fight against poverty adopted by the government and implemented by all the local authorities, including the administration of the city of Kigali, which includes the district of Kicukiro, the site of our intervention.
Through this project, the participants, whether they are single women or couples, follow training courses, counseling, peace education, family planning, and entrepreneurship, at the end of which they receive funding to be able to start a small income-generating business. From that moment, and for the following 12 months, they are constantly followed and supported by the trainer until the sustainability of their activity is verified.
The project, thanks to the precious support of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, is still ongoing.
