Rwanda

Our plan in Rwanda

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Rwanda to empower communities to bring real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan began working in Rwanda in 2007 and currently has programs in five administrative areas in the eastern province district of Gatsibo which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• High school drop out rate especially for girls due to poverty levels and poor school health and sanitation environment
• Limited early childhood care and development services for children 0-6 due to unavailability of services and policy
• Youth social and economic disempowerment as a result of inadequate employment opportunities and skills for youths
• Children’s rights are not respected and are often violated due to weak community institutions and little awareness of children’s rights

Plan’s programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Education

Plan Rwanda works to improve the school drop out rate through financial support for school fees and promoting income generation activities for families.  Plan also works to raise awareness of gender equality issues and the importance of education for girls, while also improving school infrastructure and water access.

Early childcare and development

Plan works to improve access to quality healthcare, early childcare and development facilities and services through improving pre-school and pre-scholar programs.  Plan Rwanda also supports policy development for early childhood issues and encourages community-management of early childhood facilities and services.

Household economic security

Plan Rwanda promotes youth social economic empowerment and focuses on the development of the capacity of youth to become involved in income generating activities so they may provide for themselves.  Plan’s programs include vocational, entrepreneurial and business training, building relationships between youths to form cooperatives, financial services groups and support groups.

Child rights, participation and protection

Plan Rwanda works with local and international organisations to advocate child rights and child protection.  Plan’s programs work to promote awareness of child rights issues, strengthen community-based organisations and encourage children to participate in Plan’s programs.

Country Facts

Country	Rwanda	Australia
Flag
Population	8.6 Million	19.9 Million
Language	Kinyarwanda, French & English (official)	English
Capital	Kigali	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	$1,500 (2005 est.)	$29,000
Life expectancy	44.2	80.3
Access to safe drinking water	74%	100%
Literacy	70.4%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006