OVC

OVC is an umbrella-term for projects supporting orphans and children in vulnerable situations. These projects are part of Norwegian Red Cross’ donor-program (barneland), helping funding the projects driven by Rwanda Red Cross. Gisagara was the first district in Rwanda to have an OVC project, and today about 2650 children is supported by it, in Nyanza district about 1900 children take part in the project.

Cultivation = food for the children

Rice, beans, sweet-potatoes, ground nuts and other agricultural products is cultivated in the swamp-areas in the southern province to support children in vulnerable situations. Food-security is vital to obtain in the area which is characterized by draught outside of the rain-season. The surplus after providing the children and their care-takers with food is sold at the market to produce some income to keep the business going. In addition to cultivation, also animal keeping is on the agenda to increase the food-security for the children.

Education for the future

Running children, screaming, laughing and waving are common when we enter school-yards where we are to meet pupils and teachers for informal talks. These kinds of school-visits has been overwhelming considering the attention that we get and the questions asked about who we are, what Red Cross do in Norway and Rwanda etc.

For girls and boys that cannot afford to attend secondary school or which hasn’t passed the necessary examinations, Rwanda Red Cross provides vocational training giving the children some skills to be able to survive. This vocational training scheme covers either tailoring, carpentry or welding. In addition to these projects, some children is supported with school-fees and/or school materials such as books, uniform and pencils to make sure that they can finish the secondary education (in Rwanda 6 year of primary school is free of charge, while the 6 years of secondary school is subject to school-fees).

Water pumps and mosquito nets

In addition to these more specialized projects, Rwanda Red Cross also have projects and programs designed to help the majority of the population, not only children. Construction of proper water pumps and water stations is undertaken which is given to the population through the government to sustain clean water to whole communities. Also information about how to prevent malaria, hiv and hygienic and sanitation risks is provided by the organizations volunteers and employees through sensitization meetings, information leaflets and distribution of mosquito nets etc.

To support the children the OVC projects in Rwanda, please follow the link to Norwegian Red Cross’ donor-program:
http://rodekors.no/Vart_arbeid/Internasjonalt_arbeid/Fadderprogram/Rwanda/