Southern Province - During a recent field visit to households classified under Ubudehe category one, and ipso facto beneficiaries of Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) in Huye and Nyamagabe Districts on from 11th to 13th June 2019, collected testimonies prove that graduation from extreme poverty is something real. Beneficiaries of “Direct Support”, “Minimum Package for Graduation”, “Financial Services”, “Public Works” and “Expanded Public Works” revealed how they amazingly improved their living conditions thanks to VUP. Most of our interlocutors strongly desire to rise to upper Ubudehe categories as they express endless thanks to the Government of Rwanda for the regular and timely support from which they get a decent living.

Ms. MUKARWEMERA Evelyne is an Expanded Public Works beneficiary from Butare Village, Ngara Cell, Mbazi Sector, Nyamagabe: “I was classified in Ubudehe category one. I was given this house, three goats and a cow through Girinka programme. Moreover, I am an employee of Expanded Public Works to maintain murram roads. After two years of this kind of employment, I manage to get most of my home needs especially foodstuff and school material for my kids. […] When my goats and cow reproduce, I will do all my best to graduate from the first Ubudehe category”.

Ms. KAYITESI Providence, is a mother of four and cares for her two siblings. She is a Public Works beneficiary from Kaseremba Village, Rukira Cell, Huye Sector, Huye: “I am employed in VUP public works. When I get 65,000 Frw wage for 4 working periods (10 days each), I utilize 20,000 Frw for home needs and I save the balance on my Umurenge SACCO account […]. Our leaders pay frequent visits to us and advise us on how to well manage our take homes and improve our livelihoods. I have paved this house and built a 12 m pit latrine. I am striving to get means to pay contributions for all my six family members and I shall quit this first Ubudehe category. […] I am much thankful to our Sector Executive Secretary for advice and good service to us. I am also grateful to the top leadership of our country for the support we get through VUP”.

Mr. RWAGASANA Tharcisse, is a beneficiary of both Direct Support and the Minimum Package for Graduation, from Akarambo Village, Gahororo Cell, Karama Sector, Huye District: “I was first given financial support in cash since I am handicapped. I bought a radio set and I managed to do finishing works on my house. Also, thanks to this monthly cash transfer, I hire a cultivator to work in my piece of land, and I get foodstuff for my family. I was later three given three goats although two of them died, but I bought two others in exchange […]. If ever this support continues to flow in, then I am spending happy days at my advanced age”.

Ms. MUKAMANA Regina is a Financial Service beneficiary from Akarambo Village, Gahororo Cell, Karama Sector, Huye District. “I applied for 100,000 Frw VUP loan, and I was given 96,000 Frw thanks to which I bought a pig (which unfortunately died later). I also bought and 200 kg beans for retail which generated 100,000 Frw, and then I bought a land plot worth 100,000 Frw. I have already paid back the loan, and I am planning to exploit my piece of land by cultivating potatoes from which I expect to get other small livestock”.

In light of these testimonies, it is clear that efforts invested in social protection programmes, especially VUP, are making positive impact towards the poverty eradication journey. The latest Intergrated Household Living Survey (EICV5) indicated that extreme poverty remains at a rate of 16% in 2018/2019. Therefore, Government and non-government agencies, national and international NGOs should eagerly implement the multi-sectorial joint plan to accelerate the eradication of extreme poverty by 2024 as per National Strategy Transformation (NST1) targets.