On October 16th, 2024, the International Day of Rural Women was celebrated in Ndora Sector, Gisagara District, with a focus on empowering rural women economically. This important event was organized in collaboration with local authorities and the Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment (JPRWEE). Participating United Nations Organizations (PUNOs) including UN Women, IFAD, FAO, and WFP joined hands with Implementing Partners such as SAFE, INADES Formation Rwanda, and CVI.
The event was graced by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) as the guest of honor, alongside the UN Women Country Representative and other UN staff from the regional office.
A highlight of the celebration was the inspiring story of Eugene Nkurikiyinaka and Catherine Uwizeyimana, a couple who shared their transformative journey after being enrolled in GALS (Gender Action Learning System) training under the JPRWEE program. They described how their relationship had been strained by conflicts before the training, but GALS empowered them to overcome challenges. Today, they have not only strengthened their family bond but also achieved economic success through agribusiness ventures such as fruit production and livestock farming.
Participants had the opportunity to visit several JPRWEE interventions in the community, which showcased the positive impact of the program on rural women’s lives, promoting sustainable development and gender equality.
SAFE is proud to be part of this transformative initiative that is changing the lives of rural women and their families across Rwanda.
GALS brings about powerful, positive changes in gender and social norms and relations for both men and women at the household and group levels
Eugene NKURIKIYINAKA and Catherine UWIZEYIMANA are married with two children, living in Gisagara district, Ndora sector in Rwanda. Before GALS training, Eugene was considering his wife as someone else without any right at home. He used to drink overdose alcohol and beat his wife when back home. His wife did not have any right on household assets and was not participating in decision- making at home. They lived in conflicts until his wife decided to leave the house and went back to her parents’ home with the two children. The case was reported to their families, friends, local authorities but appropriate response provided. The local authorities advised them to be temporary separated and shared them their household assets to be able to survive
Through JP RWEE program, Eugene was identified as beneficiary of GALS training. He was trained on GALS by GALS Expert and Field Facilitator and started after the GALS training especially the Gender Balance Tree. He shared that he realized how difficult it is to be developed alone without your wife to be able to support each other to achieve the dreams and targets included in his Vision Road Journey. During the session of Diamond Dream, Eugene recognized that he offended his wife and decided to engage his wife and negotiate if she could come back home. Eugene reduced the consumption of alcohol and stopped the domestic violence against his wife and they now live in harmony. Eugene contribute to household unpaid care work such as fetch water, collect firewood and cooking which led to his wife reduced workload, increased her time to productive activities and her participation in community leadership positions and activities.
Thanks to their exposure to GALS training, their relationship has improved driven by Eugene’s behavior change which also led the spouses to improved livelihoods as a result of increased productivity, better access to services and markets and increased household assets such as house, land renting, livestock, bicycles, motorcycles, farm equipment.). The couple has also made decision to increase investment in the education of both children (boy and girl), bought improved seeds, have improved their food security and practice the rain water harvesting system. Eugene and Catherine future plan is to grow tomatoes, invest in small livestock as well as increasing their agriculture production.
