It is a pleasure to provide brief progress reports on three of the development projects that were recently funded by the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund. Please keep in mind that all twelve development projects were designed by the project managers and all of the projects are implemented by the project managers. All of the projects work to become self-sustaining and all of the projects work to involve the indigenous beneficiaries and develop their capacity.
• Making Bricks in Mugaruro Quarter, Buterere Commune, Project Manager, Audace Mpawenimana
Project Description:
Based on the needs and recommendations identified in his master’s of business administration thesis, the project manager, Audace Mpawenimana, designed a project to develop the capacity and improve the socioeconomic lives of brick makers. The project provides training and financial assistance for 15 people who make bricks and are committed members of an association. The training focuses on improving brick making and business management skills. The financial assistance consists of providing support for other income-generating activities. Some of the income is being reinvested back into the association to ensure that the project sustains itself and grows.
Recent Activities and Accomplishments:
As expected, the project manager has held a number of meetings with the beneficiaries; the brick makers who signed an agreement to be contributing members of the association. In addition, the project manager organized a training session for the brick makers.
In the dry season, the summer, the brick makers can make one batch of bricks after another. The project has already made and sold two batches of bricks. The first step in brick making is to collect and prepare the clay for making bricks. The next step is to form and dry the bricks. The third step is fire the bricks. The final step is to sell the bricks.
In the wet season, the rainy season, it is more difficult to keep the formed bricks dry before firing. Although brick making will not stop completely in the rainy season, the association members have decided to rent land and grow rice starting in September.
• Savings and Loans: Christian Initiative for Women’s Development in Gatumba, Project Manager, Christine Kamirameya
Project Description:
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 provides opportunities for self-development and capacity-development, loans for income-generating activities and economic development and, thereby, provides 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 long into the future.
Recent Activities and Accomplishments:
The project manager is meeting with the members of the association; the women who signed the contract and agreed to the aims and responsibilities of the Savings and Loans project. Some meetings are educational and some are business meetings. Loans have been made and small income-generating businesses have been started. Most of the businesses, such as planting and selling vegetables, are going very well and the loan repayments are being made.
The association is generating a considerable amount of money from the interest on the loans. The women are encouraged to invite needy women to join the association team and take advantage of the educational and financial benefits.
• Breeding Goats at Nyambuye Zone in Isale Commune, Project Manager, Desire Ciza
Project Description:
This project is designed to improve the socioeconomic conditions of 12 women; community-selected beneficiaries in a rural area. The beneficiaries are organized into an association of committed members. The project distributed 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.
Recent Activities and Accomplishments:
The female beneficiaries, women from needy families, were selected by the community. The beneficiaries have signed agreement in support of the aims of the project and the benefits, responsibilities and obligations of the association and elected officers. The project manager and a veterinarian purchased goats and the goats were distributed the same day. In order to have money for crops, only 12 goats were purchased and in order to ensure a sense of fair play, the distribution of the goats to 12 women was done randomly through a draw of numbers. Other women will be invited to join the association and get a goat later; after the first gestation.
Following the distribution of goats, the project manager met with the beneficiaries to discuss:
- the role of women in development
- the understanding about receiving a goat
- the renting of land and collective growing of crops
- the monthly dues for the association
The land has been rented but the planting will not take place until September. Since it was too early to plant the crops of beans and maize (corn), the beneficiaries asked if some of the project money and the land could be used to support the cultivation of vegetables for more immediate income-generation. This was approved and vegetable cultivation and vegetable sales are underway.