How ‘Run with Rwanda’ Anglican church initiative improves citizens’ livelihoods
By Elias Hakizimana.
The Anglican church of Rwanda has initiated a holistic program dubbed ‘Run with Rwanda’ to improve citizens’ welfare in Gicumbi district through sports competitions and social-economic activities.
The initiative was introduced in 2008 as a partnership effort between Anglican church of Rwanda and the government of Rwanda with other friends of the church from America, Colorado Springs state.
The move is also in line with the church’s goals to build a decent person with clean soul, thoughts, body and environment according to Bishop Emmanuel Ngendahayo.
“This is the 15th round of this kind of activity since 2008 and we had the aim to change mindset and the ways people think towards seeking solutions of people’s problems by using a strategy that involves beneficiaries,” Bishop Ngendahayo says.
He says that citizens were lacking a spirit to live together, to love each other and to cater for themselves, which pushed the church to seek for partners to help them have health facilities and an entertainment place, plus a training place for different vocational education hands-on skills.
The 15th Run with Rwanda event that took place at Kibare playground in Byumba sector, Gicumbi district has involved running activity for both elderly and younger people, discussions, sings and dances to increase the level of harmony and love as well as cultivating unity and reconciliation among the citizens.
“After educating them on unity and reconciliation, we also conducted socio-economic activities to ensure their wellbeing and economic empowerment. We built a health facility, a playground that helps children and adults to practice sports, we are also building a big conference room to host trainings on Unity and Reconciliation and foster good relationships among wives and husbands,” Bishop Ngendahayo explains.
He adds that the church plans to build public accommodations and schools for short and long-term training courses in agriculture, livestock and other vocational education trainings to support job creation initiative.
“In our vision, we want to reach out citizens and oversee other activities that interest them in their daily lives, we want that people embrace development and get involved in such activities,”
Donatille Uwamahoro, in charge of good governance Department in Gicumbi district says that competition sessions are a good occasion for the district to communicate the government’s programs and other campaigns that reach to many people on the site.
Fighting drug and alcohol abuse
Uwamahoro says that they got a good occasion to tell their citizens to reduce excessive consumption of alcohol after Gicumbi district was ranked the top among the districts with many drunk people.
“We can’t miss such an opportunity to tell people to reduce alcohol consumption as it is catalyst to family conflicts and economy mismanagement.” Uwamahoro says.
She commends the Anglican church for their will and efforts to approach citizens and help them to do physical exercises, while many of them could have suffered from high blood pressure.
Citizens speak out
Verene Nyirarukiko, 64, from Miliko village, Kivugiza cell, Byumba sector who is a Christian of Kibari Anglican church, has participated in jogging exercises and says it was an ever-joyful activity for her.
“I have crossed 2.5 kilometers and I secured the first place within 15 minutes. Sports helps me to stretch the body and to perform my daily activities with power, I was about to have my leg disabled but now I move without any problem,” Nyirarukiko says.
Nyirarukiko is happy to get some awards as the best runner among the elderly people, she was given Rwf10,000 and a bar of soap.
“We appreciate the good heart od Anglican church people who think of us and help us to embrace socio-economic development,” she adds.
Ildephonse Nsengiyumva, 72, has also participated in the running competitions, he did 2.5 kilometers in 12 minutes. “I used to practice physical activities and it is the reason I secured the first place, I encourage my fellow elderly to do sports activities to remain healthy,” he says.
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