Family week in Nyarugenge sector strengthens families and celebrates community achievements

BY CYUBAHIRO PRINCE BORIS

BUGESERA, RWANDA – The Family Week initiative, coordinated by the Eastern Province in collaboration with local government institutions and supported by Ripple Effect Rwanda through the RESTORE Project, concluded this week in Nyarugenge Sector, Bugesera District.

Aligned with the Gender Accountability Day (GAD) framework of the Gender Monitoring Office, the program promotes family unity, gender equality, and child protection. It raises awareness on the importance of legal marriage, preventing gender-based violence, discouraging polygamy, and combating malnutrition.

One of the week’s most notable milestones was the legal marriage of 11 families who had previously been cohabiting without legal recognition.

According to Kazungu Innocent, Executive Secretary of Nyarugenge Sector, this step reinforces social stability and secures the rights of families:

“By encouraging couples to formalize their unions, we are showing that marriage is not only about love but also about law. It protects children, safeguards spouses, and helps build a society that is stable and inclusive,” he said.

Through its RESTORE Project, Ripple Effect Rwanda has been supporting communities around Lake Cyohoha by promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting the environment, and strengthening household resilience.

Jean de Dieu Hagenimana, a project officer with RESTORE, highlighted the results so far:

“We combine family development with environmental conservation. In just six months, we have supported more than 800 families with awareness campaigns, introduced energy-saving stoves that reduce firewood use by 80 percent, and encouraged equality within households. These actions reduce conflicts and improve wellbeing for all.”

For local residents, Family Week and Ripple Effect’s interventions are already transforming daily life.

Uwimana Seraphine, a resident of Ngenda Cell, shared her experience:

“Ripple Effect came at the right time. They encouraged us to marry legally, which gives us protection under the law. As someone married legally, I advise couples to follow this path—it brings stability and security. They also taught us to make kitchen gardens so we can give our children a balanced diet. This is real change in our families.”

Masengesho Grace, another resident of Nyarugenge Sector, expressed her gratitude:

“Ripple Effect stands with us. They provide livestock, support our projects, and walk with us when we face challenges. For families like mine that had very little, their support has given us hope.”

The closing of Family Week was marked by celebrations of these achievements and by a renewed commitment from local leaders and partners to continue strengthening families across Bugesera District and beyond.

Leaders emphasized that the week’s lessons—UNITY, EQUALITY, PROTECTION, AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY—are vital foundations for building stronger households and a more prosperous community.