Category: Community Impact Stories

Daniel and Beatha at the 22nd National Catholic Youth Forum. Young people from Nyanza and Nyaruguru strengthened their knowledge. Moreover, they grew in confidence and connections through five days of learning, reflection and exchange. Eight young people supported by Dufatanye Organization joined more than 3,500 participants at the 22nd National Catholic Youth Forum, held from 19–23 August. Representing Nyanza and Nyaruguru districts, four girls and four boys participated. They joined alongside young people from Rwanda’s nine dioceses, as well as participants from Italy, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi. The gathering was organized by the Commission Episcopal pour la Pastorale des Jeunes (C.E.P.J.) under the theme: “We Are Witnesses of Hope, Fraternity and Peace.” For the participating young people, the forum was more than a large gathering. It offered an opportunity to…

MUBUGA, RWABICUMA, NYANZA DISTRICT - 7 August 2026 - As Rwanda marked Umuganura, the National Harvest Day, residents of Mubuga Cell in Rwabicuma Sector joined people across the country in giving thanks to God for the harvest and reaffirming their commitment to hard work, unity and sustainable community development. The celebration brought together residents from Mubuga Cell's four villages, local government leaders and development partners. The joyful gathering reflected the spirit of Umuganura: gratitude, shared prosperity and the values that strengthen communities. Dufatanye Organization showcases its community development work at the Umuganura exhibition in Mubuga Cell. The festivities began with an exhibition where development partners working in Mubuga presented their activities and the progress achieved with the community. The displays highlighted initiatives improving livelihoods through sustainable agriculture, livestock farming, economic…

In Nyamagana Cell, what stands today as a nationally recognized Early Childhood Development Center once began as a simple dream shared by a committed community. The current Akanyange Home Based ECD Before the construction of the current center, young children attended early learning sessions in a small room inside a community member’s house. The space was offered with generosity and love, but it was not enough to fully support quality early childhood development. The room was overcrowded, learning materials were limited, sanitation facilities were inadequate, and children had little space to play, move freely, or explore their creativity. For young children, the early years are the foundation of lifelong learning, confidence, health, and social development. They need safe, stimulating, and child-friendly spaces where they can learn through play, interact with…

Located in the remote southern village of Rasaniro, Mukagatare Claudine is a mother of two boys and one girl. Oftentimes, while raising her children, Claudine could not afford an essential, protein-rich staple of the Rwandan diet: Beans. At market, a kilo of beans costs 1400 Rwandan Francs (~0.96 USD), but without a stable income, Claudine and her family missed out on this crucial protein source and went hungry. Trying to solve this problem, Claudine attempted to build her own kitchen garden to supplement their diets and gain easier access to more balanced meals. She said, “We tried to make kitchen gardens ourselves. We built them using wood and small mounds or other weak materials. And sometimes we would come back and find children had destroyed them.” Mwanguzi Evariste, another resident…

Icyizere Raro or ‘Rare Hope’ is the name of an Early Childhood Development center (ECD) located in Nyamagabe District that cares for 20 children, ages 0-6 years old. Staying true to its name, this center is a rare hope for local children to safely develop (physically and mentally) at no cost before beginning primary school. Dufatanye Organization oversees Icyizere Raro and many other ECDs in Nyamagabe District. Speciose Mukantagara, a caregiver at Icyizere Raro, described the impact of Dufatanye’s recent presence: “There were also children who had poor nutrition… But… [Dufatanye] began giving us porridge. Porridge is very good for children. You can see the children improving and gaining weight. The children are healthy and happy… Some children do not get porridge at home but receive it here, and that…

Last Friday, February 20, Dufatanye Organization was honored by Nyaruguru District for renovating 13 homes that had deteriorated since being built after the 1994 genocide. In partnership with the Suyana Foundation and the local government, 26 homes in total will be renovated, fixing roofs, kitchens, toilets, and other structural improvements. To learn more about this restoration and Dufatanye's collaboration with the local community, read Top Africa News's article: Nyaruguru: Low-Income Families in Rasaniro Village Celebrate New Homes and Development Local government leaders, community members, and Dufatanye CEO Godfrey Karema at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Deep in the rolling hills of Rwanda, past paved roads and countless banana plantations, Munini lies five hours south of the capital city of Kigali. Ishimwe Delphine, a 23-year-old Munini resident, participated in Dufatanye’s SOYEE project, saying months after its conclusion that: “In the past, some young men would offer us money because we lacked our own income. Today, no one can give me money that way because I earn my own. We farm as we were trained, sell our produce on the market, and meet our needs. We are putting into practice everything we learned, and we will not give up, we will continue.” Financial literacy and modern agriculture skills have strengthened confidence, independence, and self-reliance among Delphine and other young women who participated in the project. Former SOYEE…

Tanks, about the size of 26 bathtubs each, strapped onto large trucks, made their way down the hilly, rocky roads of Rwanda. In November 2025, just a few months ago, these trucks were headed to homes in a remote area in the southern part of the country. In total, 16 5,000-liter water tanks were given to households in Mubuga Cell, Nyanza District. Tanks provide a multitude of services, including water for irrigation of kitchen gardens, household cleaning, and hygiene. Aloyisia Nyankima, after using her tank for a couple of months, told us that, “We now boil the water to make it safe for drinking, we use it for washing, cleaning, and for all our daily needs.” Now that villagers have easy access to water right at their doorstep, they can…

Earlier this month the Dufatanye Organization employees and volunteers woke up at sunrise with a (tired) smile on their faces. It was time for Umuganda (community work), which occurred early every Tuesday morning, where organization members joined with the surrounding community to work on a development project. For this day’s Umuganda, Muhimpundu Claudine’s home was the working site. Muhimpundu is 62 years old, lives in Nyamagana, a Village of Hope, and because of her age was struggling to advance her farm. So, during Umuganda, 20 mango trees and 15 banana trees were planted on her land. Afterwards, Muhimpundu said, “At my age, being able to receive fruit trees is a great blessing.” She further explained the trees’ impact, saying that “In everyday life, you can take bananas to the market…

We are delighted to share that our Banana Fiber Sanitary Pads Project has been featured by the Global Landscape Forum (GLF) a global platform dedicated to sustainable development, climate action, and community-led innovation. 🌿 This powerful story highlights how our community in Rwanda is transforming banana fiber waste into affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads; an initiative that not only supports women and girls with improved menstrual hygiene but also promotes environmental sustainability and economic empowerment. Through this project, we continue to demonstrate the impact of community-driven solutions in addressing social and environmental challenges. By turning agricultural waste into valuable products, we are creating opportunities, restoring dignity, and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable Rwanda. 📖 Read the full article on the Global Landscape Forum website:👉 Rwanda: Banana fiber menstrual pads “Thank…