BULLETIN: And Then There Were Twelve Development Projects

The Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund is pleased to announce the results of its last Call for Proposals.  After reviewing 32 proposals, the African Governing Committee selected four proposals and asked the would-be project managers for additional information; answers to specific questions about the implementation of the proposed project.  The African Governing Committee then recommended the four projects for funding.  As soon as the North American Governing Committee received the recommendations, the members approved the distribution of the money in support of the four projects.

The Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund previously funded eight development projects and all eight projects remain active.  With eight previously funded projects and four new projects, the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund now has twelve development projects.  The four new development projects are briefly described below (photographs will follow the implementation start-up) and the eight previously funded development projects are listed below (the last newsletter provided progress reports and photographs of the eight projects).

Four Recently Funded Development Projects

  • Making Bricks in Mugaruro Quarter, Buterere Commune, Project Manager, Audace Mpawenimana

Based on the needs and recommendations identified in his master’s of business administration thesis, the project manager designed a project to develop the capacity and improve the socioeconomic lives of brick makers.  The project will provide training and financial assistance to 15 people who make bricks and are committed members of an association.  The training will focus on improving brick making and management skills.  The financial assistance will consist of providing support for other income-generating activities.  Some of the income will be reinvested back into the association to ensure that the project sustains itself and grows.

  • Farming Peanuts with Landless Women in Giharo, Rutana, Project Manager, Barthelemy Minani

Giharo commune is predominately populated by repatriates from Tanzania.  This project will work with 20 poor, uneducated, landless and disconnected women; widows and other single parent women.  The women will be organized into a self-help association that will become a self-governing and self-sustaining cooperative.  The women will be trained to grow peanuts.  In the first year, the women will be paid for their work and they will be able to provide food and shelter and education and health services for their children.  The proceeds from the sale of peanuts will be reinvested into the association and it is expected that the women will be able to buy their own land and become financially independent.

  • Savings and Loans: Christian Initiative for Women’s Development in Gatumba, Project Manager, Christine Kamirameya

Gatumba is an over-crowded, poverty-stricken village 15 kilometres outside of the capital city of Bujumbura and on the way to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The purpose of the project is to use micro-financing to bring together a group of 20 in need women for mutual support and development.  Employing a participatory approach, the project will provide opportunities for self-development and capacity-development, loans for income-generating activities and economic development and, thereby, provide benefits for the women and their families.  Each member has signed an agreement, a social contract to support the association and its covenants. The repayment of loans and the payment of interest are designed to sustain the project and its growth into the future.

  • Breeding Goats at Nyambuye Zone in Isale Commune, Project Manager, Desire Ciza

This project is designed to improve the socioeconomic conditions of 15 women; community-selected beneficiaries in a rural area.  The beneficiaries will be organized into an association of committed members.  The project will distribute female goats to each association member; a representative of a needy household. For the first two gestations, one of the kids will be distributed to others. In addition, the association members will be trained and assisted to compost and grow crops.  The proceeds from the goats and the crops are expected to sustain the project and improve the quality of life for the represented households.

Eight Previously Funded Development Projects

Development of Vegetable Culture for the Self-Financing of IAP Twubake, Project Manager, Anicet Nyandwi

Farming Rice in Gihanga Commune, Project Manager, Ezechiel Manirakiza

Improving Food Security through Chickens at Karurama, Project Manager, Fidèle Niyoyita

Farming Goats at Gatwe, Project Manager, Jean Claude Ngendakumana

Welding Workshop at Buterere, Project Manager, Kilongo Banyakwa

Improved Food Security at Kabezi, Project Managers, Marie Nadège Twagirayezu and Anicet Nyandwi

Tailoring for Women at Kinama (formerly Nyanza-lac), Project Manager, Christine Kamirameya

Micro-financing for Women of Cibitoke Commune (formerly, the Pig Farming at Muyebe project), Project Managers, Eddyne Irankunda and Evelyne Kanyana