CORE project was established in 2015, with an aim of significantly increasing household off-farm incomes for women and youth by 2021, in the two areas of interventions of Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) funded project, which was in its second phase of implementation since 2018 (CORE II), was designed to respond to the challenges of limited access to market information, limited business management skills, limited access to vocational skills, limited support structures for entrepreneurs and limited access to financial services for women and youth.
Speaking at the event held on 29th March 2022 in Rusizi District, World Vision Rwanda’s Country Director,Pauline Okumu revealed that the project has created a huge impact to beneficiaries.
“Through this project, a lot has been achieved that deserves to be celebrated today. We now have over 180 functional off farm women and youth cooperatives /business groups, there’s been a tremendous increase in trade volumes for women in tailoring business and those that deal in honey production, the number of savings groups has highly increased and we also have more women and youth accessing formal and informal financial services, to mention but a few. We attribute all these achievements to the CORE 11 project which was funded by SIDA,” she said.
When the project started, Okumu added, all the beneficiaries were in the first and second category (Ubudehe wealth ranking category) but many of them testify that they have been empowered and qualify for the third category.
She appreciated The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for their generous support through funding this project that transformed thousands of people in Rusizi and Nyamasheke district.
Judith Mukantirenganya from Bugarama Sector attested that World Vision inspired them to work in groups to uplift their wellbeing.
“I was living in a rented house by the time we got married but I have become a smart woman with diversified income. Today, my husband and i live in our own house that we built together. My reputation has improved before my husband and he treats me decently as a life partner,” she said.
Mukantirenganya assured World Vision and SIDA that they will continue working hard to prosper and consolidate gains.
“We also mobilize neighbours and other members of the community to embrace saving culture if they are to spur economic growth,” she noted.
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