CARITAS GIKONGORO PROFILE
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. NATURE OF CARITAS GIKONGORO
Caritas Gikongoro is by nature a service of the Catholic Diocese of Gikongoro, responsible for humanitarian action in favor of the poorest and people in distress. Currently it carries out its activities in all the 17 parishes of the Diocese Gikongoro. The structures of Caritas Gikongoro are: General Assembly, Board of Directors, Diocesan Office and Committees of Parishes, Centrals and Basic Ecclesial Communities.
1.2. MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
Vision
The vision of Caritas Gikongoro is to “Have a society where human dignity and the integral development of people are promoted according to evangelical values”.
Mission
The mission of Caritas of Gikongoro is “To assist needy people in improving socio-economic well-being”.
Values
The Values of Caritas Gikongoro are “Charity, Dignity, Solidarity, Equality, Responsibility, Integrity, Transparency, Advocacy, …”.
Area of Intervention
Caritas Gikongoro extends over the whole of the Catholic Diocese of Gikongoro divided into 17 Parishes covering the administrative District of Nyamagabe, a part of Nyaruguru and the small portions of the Districts of Nyanza, Huye and Karongi.
2. DEPARTEMENTS OF CARITAS GIKONGORO
Caritas Gikongoro has three departments: Department of Socio-Charitable Works, Health and Development 2.1. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIO-CHARITABLE WORKSThe objective of the Department of Socio-Charitable Works is to: The human advancement of vulnerable people is ensured in a sustainable manner. Support for education:brings together the main activities such as the payment of school fees, tickets, the purchase of school materials and uniforms for needy pupils in primary and secondary school, as well as the starter kit for pupils who have completed the training professional.
Distribution of school uniformsSupport for health: includes activities such as the payment of medical care for the sick, disabled children and young people and mutual health insurance (health insurance) for the poor;Animation at Caritas: It is awareness for Caritas in the community and in primary and secondary schools;v The construction and rehabilitation of houses for the homeless;v Help elderly people find food, clothes and hygiene materials;v Supervise young people and refugee children from the Kigeme Camp morally, culturally and spiritually.
2.2. HEALTH DEPARTEMENT
The Health Department in the Diocesan Caritas of Gikongoro has as strategic objective stating that “accessibility and quality of health services are improved”. This strategic objective is implemented through the promotion of:
- Use of health services at of Health Centers and community;
- Promotion of natural family planning methods;
- Prevention and management of communicable and non-communicable diseases at Health Centers and community level;
- Improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and children under 5;
Contribute to the effective establishment of operational early childhood development services at the village level (Hygiene),
Ensuring early childhood physical and mental development
2.3. DEPARTEMENT DE DEVELOPPEMENT
The development department of Caritas Gikongoro’s mission is to help rural farmers to have access to adequate means to improve their technical capacities for increasing the agricultural production, to promote initiatives of entrepreneurship for income generation within households as well as the promotion of community actions for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The activities of the development department are implemented through the following projects: · Strengthening the food and nutrition security for for 900 vulnerable households, especially women and youth through climate resilient approaches and agro-ecological practices and strategies in Busanze and Nyabimata sector from Nyaruguru district, · Promotion of agro-ecological approaches in 1,607 vulnerable households with focus on agroforestry practices in Nyamagabe district (Mbazi and Kibumbwe) and in Nyaruguru district (Busanze and Nyabimata sectors), ·Promotion of climate resilient agriculture and sustainable energy initiatives through adaptation and mitigation practices for 2000 households in Rusenge sector, in Nyaruguru district. · Create environment for young entrepreneurs so that they can fully benefit from accessible and relevant business and financial development services
The photos illustrating:1. Beneficiaries supported with water tank for collecting and storing rainwater for reuse in agriculture, 2. Demonstrations of improved stoves to save firewood,3. Production of vegetables on kitchen gardens by the beneficiaries supervised by the project, 4. Preparation of nurseries of agroforestry and fruit trees for soil conservation and improved nutrition, The Important and financial partners:
- CARITAS RWANDA
- CARITAS FRANCE/ SECOURS CATHOLIQUE
- TROCAIRE
- CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICE (CRS)
- MISSIO AUTRICHE
- PERES PALLOTINS DE SLOVAQUIE
- MAECHEL HOUSE
- NUDOR
- ETC.