This is Rwanda on COVID-19 lockdown.
It isn’t news that we are all experiencing global shift and uncertainty. At the same time, I am glad to share that love and generosity, mercy and compassion, care and creativity are stronger than fear and loss and lack.
What is also increasingly clear is how very much we need each other. Hope grows when we do what we can to throw each other a lifeline.
As Executive Director of African Road, I am writing to let you know how friends and partners across East Africa are doing, and how their communities are in the face of Covid-19. I am truly grateful to also share the extraordinary first response from the African Road community on this side of the world as we join together in support of our Changemaker partners. As Changemakers work with determination and hope to extend a lifeline to their community members, I want to let you know how you can become part of Hope Together.
While the African Road team in Oregon has made shifts to work remotely, we are maintaining daily communication with our Changemaker friends and partners in East Africa as they too face the need for rapid response. The following reports, by country, will provide you with current updates.
Rwanda
Changemakers: Steven Turikunkiko and Penina Mukashema, Togetherness Cooperative and All Soul’s Community
Rwanda went into a total and stringent early lockdown on March 21, with no time for preparation. You can read more about what lockdown in Rwanda is like, in a blog post from African Road consultant Katie Garner, who just returned to London after living for three months in Rwanda.
In a matter of hours, people went from operating bustling businesses or tending to daily work, to being locked in very small homes with no way to get food or money for weeks. As you might imagine, this presented an immediate crisis for our partners, as they sought to help their frightened community members with compassion and concern.
Inspiring Changemaker Steven Turikunkiko told us, “I don’t know what this disease will bring but we must remember hope. The people are scared for no food. I need to move around to bring encouragement.” As Steven (who was permitted some movement as a pastor and a recognized community leader, and because he has a private vehicle) worked to check in on each and every member of the Togetherness Cooperative, the All Soul’s Church, the Ebenezer and New Destiny Women’s Cooperatives and, the poorest neighbors in the area, we got to work here.
Within only four days, friends of African Road came together with enough funding to provide food for 350 people for over a month. There was funding for Steven’s household of 19 (filled with once-orphaned children who have a ‘forever family’ with Steven and Providance.) There was provision for fuel for Steven to get from house to house and to use the internet and phone to keep in touch.
Philbert’s entire social enterprise, Kiberinka Center, which supports the work of reconciliation and forgiveness and community development, is closed through lockdown. The African Road team worked with Philbert Kalisa to draft a plan and proposal to feed his most vulnerable neighbors.
Today Philbert is coordinating with the local government and has received enough funding to feed 200 families for three weeks.
What’s needed in Rwanda: Funds for the strong possibility of extended lockdown and for essential post lockdown recovery.
Burundi
Changemakers: Evariste and Grace Ndikumana and the ASSEJEBA Indigenous team
As Rwanda went into complete lockdown, Burundi- located right next door- has continued to carry on with little preparation other than an admonition to wash hands. In a country where most people cannot afford soap and there is little infrastructure, the consequences of continuing with life as usual are gravely concerning and likely to become very serious.
For our Changemaker partner Evariste Ndikumana, a grassroots leader in the indigenous Batwa tribe, the pending health crisis has him and his team of volunteer indigenous leaders ASSEJEBA on high alert. The Batwa live on the margins and most are in extreme poverty, leaving them highly vulnerable.
As one of the few Batwa with a university degree and international connections, Evariste is looked to for hope by the Batwa population of Burundi. “At the end of this time, we want to be able to say we did the best we could and, we were together.” That is my promise to Evariste. The African Road community will do the best we can do, and he does not stand alone.
Evariste told us, “My heart does rejoice with the steps we have begun to make in the lives of my people in moving from misery to hope. To be able to have soap, national IDs and health insurance is a reason to have happiness. With your help we will make it together and can continue forward. We have a long journey to make but we have begun. Thank you for joining the journey to bring emergency assistance, which makes future hope and progress possible for more Batwa people in Burundi.”
What is needed in Burundi: Contributions toward a general emergency response fund will equip Evariste and his team to provide soap and food to the most vulnerable Batwa families.
Additionally a partner organization, One Day’s Wages, has offered African Road MATCHING FUNDS for a Medical Care and Identity Kit fund. Evariste has made an urgent appeal, with the hope we can complete this campaign as soon as possible. When the match has been met, $40,000 will be released to bring help to 1,100 Batwa. Your gift toward this goal will be matched when you donate at this link.
Tanzania
Changemakers: Consoler and Eliya Wilbert, New Hope for Girls Organization
Tanzania has taken more precautions than Burundi, having banned large public gatherings (although churches have not closed) schools are shut and touch is discouraged when greeting. Commerce continues on as usual and physical distancing isn’t generally being encouraged otherwise.
Consoler and Eliya, along with their own two children, provide a home and family for 44 girls and young women. Additionally, they are a resource hub and safety net for hundreds of very poor families who live in their area. With preparation and prevention in mind they made the decision to remove their girls from school prior to the government order and to discontinue church attendance for the time being. This family of 48 is all together in their compound. Eliya’s employer has given him permission to work remotely at this time. He goes out of the family compound for supplies when needed but all others are staying in. Calming words, routines and education at home shape each day now. Widespread lockdown is likely when the incidence of Coronavirus increases.
Consoler and Eliya prepared a budget and a strategy. Last week donations to meet these needs exactly, for four weeks, were given. New Hope for Girls are now fully prepared for the immediate future and as always, they are thinking beyond themselves to care for others. The family sent us a video message to advise us on how we can make it through this time. Their example and their intention to reach out and share a lifeline with us is truly, “Hope Together.’
What is needed in Tanzania: Consoler reported this weekend, that things are beginning to become tough as prices soar and people begin to isolate. We join her in concern for the poorest of the poor and invite you to help New Hope for Girls be a lifeline with emergency funds for food supplies.
Uganda
Changemaker: David Clemy, VICOBA Plus founder
Uganda staged their lockdown over a period of several days. At this point no private motorized vehicles are permitted on roads without special authorization. Bicycle use is acceptable and unlike Rwanda, people can move about freely and groups of up to five can still gather. Most businesses have been closed and all large gatherings prohibited. While some home-based industries (sewing, soap making, farming) can continue, many people have lost their source of income. Food security is a serious concern.
We are glad to stand with David and his team as they continue to bring hope (and food) to their community.
What is needed in Uganda: David is pairing food and encouragement with refresher assignments on VICOBA Plus thinking and the mindset to equip people to overcome together. You can help fund his brilliant strategy and belief in the power of people together.
The Work of African Road
We often say, that the work of African Road is not charity or aid, but investment, partnership and long-term strategy for sustainability. Lasting change comes through community empowerment that equips people to lift themselves up out of poverty and bring about flourishing communities. At the same time, our work is also deeply rooted in a strong value for authentic relationships and friendship.
In an unexpected crisis, friends step up, reach out a hand and stand alongside. The posture of friendship means that in this season we, you and all of us together, have the opportunity to help with a strategic emergency response.
Friendship goes two ways. We have been touched and overwhelmed by the words of encouragement and perspective offered from each of our Changemaker partners though they are in the middle of serious crisis. Their practiced wisdom and resilience is an example to us, in the face of great challenge and hardship. Daily we get an assortment of caring messages, checking to see how you, friends of African Road, are. There is much for us to learn from these incredible friends.
How you can help
This is just the start. You can contribute here to an emergency fund – or here to the matching funds for ID Kits and Health Coverage for Batwa people in Burundi. Together we can provide a real lifeline for individuals and communities as crucial needs and challenges present themselves.
The extraordinary support and friendship of the African Road community and, the wisdom, resilience, care and hard work of our Changemakers is proof itself of a reason for incredible hope.
Thank you for being part of Hope Together.
Kelly Bean, African Road Executive Director
