As part of the 2024–2025 performance contracts, Kayonza District committed to providing cows to 423 vulnerable families under the Girinka Munyarwanda (One Cow per Poor Family) program.

During a dissemination meeting held on May 13, Ivan Murenzi, the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), told local leaders—from village to district level in Kayonza who had gathered to unpack the EICV7 findings and commit to new strategies aimed at transforming livelihoods.

He said ‘'Agriculture remains the dominant livelihood, employing 71.6 per cent of residents, yet 38 per cent of farming households still lack livestock—a critical asset for food security and income generation. There is a need to create more jobs for the working class, which is a national recommendation.”

However, Partners were involved to this initiative emphasizing their commitment to improving the livelihoods of underprivileged citizens, stating that their contributions aim to make a lasting impact.

Today, June 26, fifteen needy  families from Mwili Sector received cows during the final stage of the program for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

Through SAHARA Group, under the Petroleum Products Company ASHARAMI Energy Rwanda Ltd donated 15 cows to needy families, and over 2000 were given health insurance, ensuring access to medical care for these vulnerable community members.

“This year, we have decided to support to local communities in order to contribute the wellbeing of the local citizens” Nshimiyimana Didace, the country manager said.

He added ‘Whatever we do we integrate our business into the community there we are working in….so contributed to their welfare by providing a cow which gives milk to support children, the family and the farming becomes profitable to them”.

According to beneficiaries, the cows are expected to help lift them out of poverty by improving access to milk, organic fertilisers, and income from the sale of livestock products. 

"I once had cattle before the Genocide against the Tutsi, but it was taken away, and I was left with my husband and nothing else. I fell into poverty. Today, I’m happy—I’m going to drink milk again." Xaverine Mukamudenge Said.

Gabriel Mukesha added:"They told me the cow is going to produce milk, so I’ll be able to drink it, my children will drink milk and overcome malnutrition, and even my neighbor will benefit. This will help all of us improve our health and well-being."

Harerimana Jean Damascene, The District Vice Mayor in charge of Social affairs, pointed out the role of the partners to achieving the target, including the one who donated the cows today.

"We achieved this together with this partner who supported us; as of now, there is no issue with the Girinka program in relation to the performance target we were supposed to meet this year." He noted.

In the fiscal year that just ended, 90% of residents in the district paid for their community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé), and the targeted 423 families were all successfully given cows, achieving the target  at 100%.

These continuing efforts highlight a strong commitment to social protection, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in Kayonza District.

As part of the 2024–2025 performance contracts, Kayonza District committed to providing cows to 423 vulnerable families under the Girinka Munyarwanda (One Cow per Poor Family) program.

During a dissemination meeting held on May 13, Ivan Murenzi, the Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), told local leaders—from village to district level in Kayonza who had gathered to unpack the EICV7 findings and commit to new strategies aimed at transforming livelihoods.

He said ‘'Agriculture remains the dominant livelihood, employing 71.6 per cent of residents, yet 38 per cent of farming households still lack livestock—a critical asset for food security and income generation. There is a need to create more jobs for the working class, which is a national recommendation.”

However, Partners were involved to this initiative emphasizing their commitment to improving the livelihoods of underprivileged citizens, stating that their contributions aim to make a lasting impact.

Today, June 26, fifteen needy  families from Mwili Sector received cows during the final stage of the program for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

Through SAHARA Group, under the Petroleum Products Company ASHARAMI Energy Rwanda Ltd donated 15 cows to needy families, and over 2000 were given health insurance, ensuring access to medical care for these vulnerable community members.

“This year, we have decided to support to local communities in order to contribute the wellbeing of the local citizens” Nshimiyimana Didace, the country manager said.

He added ‘Whatever we do we integrate our business into the community there we are working in….so contributed to their welfare by providing a cow which gives milk to support children, the family and the farming becomes profitable to them”.

According to beneficiaries, the cows are expected to help lift them out of poverty by improving access to milk, organic fertilisers, and income from the sale of livestock products. 

"I once had cattle before the Genocide against the Tutsi, but it was taken away, and I was left with my husband and nothing else. I fell into poverty. Today, I’m happy—I’m going to drink milk again." Xaverine Mukamudenge Said.

Gabriel Mukesha added:"They told me the cow is going to produce milk, so I’ll be able to drink it, my children will drink milk and overcome malnutrition, and even my neighbor will benefit. This will help all of us improve our health and well-being."

Harerimana Jean Damascene, The District Vice Mayor in charge of Social affairs, pointed out the role of the partners to achieving the target, including the one who donated the cows today.

"We achieved this together with this partner who supported us; as of now, there is no issue with the Girinka program in relation to the performance target we were supposed to meet this year." He noted.

In the fiscal year that just ended, 90% of residents in the district paid for their community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé), and the targeted 423 families were all successfully given cows, achieving the target  at 100%.

These continuing efforts highlight a strong commitment to social protection, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in Kayonza District.