The Korean Civil Society Organization Global Civic Sharing (GCS) Rwanda celebrates a decade of empowerment and sustainable development in the Nyarubaka sector of Rwanda’s southern province. GCS Rwanda has been implementing Self-Reliance Project for Vulnerable People Based on Civil Empowerment in Rwanda since 2015, with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as the primary funding donor from the Republic of Korea.
During the graduation ceremony, residents of Nyarubaka shared their experiences reflecting the positive changes brought about by the GCS project. They highlighted how local initiatives can transform lives and enhance community development. Many expressed that before GCS arrived, they were unaware of advanced agricultural practices. They used to mix crops and lacked knowledge about proper fertilizer usage. Now, they have learned modern farming techniques that allow them to yield sufficient produce from small plots of land.
“Before this project arrived, we only cultivated food for ourselves. But since its arrival, we have been taught how to use small plots effectively and apply fertilizers, resulting in abundant harvests of beans and maize. We eat some and sell the rest in the markets,” said Mukarugwiza.
Ntihanabayo, another farmer, shared that after ten years of working with the project, his life has changed significantly. He can now save money in a group, and all six of his children have completed secondary education, with two even graduating from university. He stated, “All my children have completed secondary school, thanks to GCS. I believe the knowledge we’ve gained will be passed on to others, helping us continue to improve and eradicate poverty.”
Richard Shyaka Nayigiziki, The Project Manager of Global Civic Sharing Rwanda, emphasized that the success GCS is celebrating goes beyond numbers or statistics; it reflects the lasting impact on the lives of those involved. “We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our participants and graduates. This event marks the culmination of their hard work and emphasizes the critical role of civic engagement in fostering a stronger, more cohesive society,” he added.
UWIRINGIRA Marie Josee, The Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs in Kamonyi District, urged residents to apply the knowledge gained from GCS to improve their lives further and help others lift themselves out of poverty. She also encouraged them not to regress in their development efforts. “We are very grateful to GCS for the support it has provided to the community over the past ten years, helping lift people out of poverty and transform their mindsets. However, we also urge residents to continue improving themselves and make the most of the knowledge received from this project to advance further and uplift their peers who still hold lower mindsets.”
In her congratulatory remarks, the Country Director of KOICA, Mrs. Jinhwa Kim, stated, “The success of this project demonstrates that by empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need, we can foster long-term, positive change. This initiative has not only created new opportunities for vulnerable populations but has also strengthened the entire community, fostering resilience and self-reliance.”
The Executive Director of Global Civic Sharing expressed satisfaction with the goals achieved by GCS since it began operating in this sector. These goals include helping the community improve its mindset toward development, particularly in agriculture, livestock, savings, and literacy, in line with their objectives of supporting self-reliance and promoting sustainable development. “When we started the program since 2015, we had several goals for this project, first of all we achieved enhancing people’s capacity and we renovated this community circumstances. As we reflect on these achievements, let us also look forward to the continued growth of these efforts.” He added.
Since 2015, GCS has transformed the lives of vulnerable individuals in Rwanda through a civil empowerment approach across three key phases. In the first phase (2015–2017), the first phase focused on Community organizations where Self-Help Groups were established, local leaders were identified and trained, and frameworks for disseminating agricultural technology and adult literacy education were created. GCS focused on cooperatives’ support and business skills’ training, and facilitated the development of irrigation facilities and storage units, all aimed at building the capacities of community organizations. Finally, in the third phase (2022–2024), aims to enhance the contributions of community organizations to the social economy, increase and stabilize household income, and establish a resident-led community development system.
These efforts have yielded remarkable results, including the training of 1,251 leaders, the graduation of 2,115 literacy participants, the formation of two cooperatives, and significant improvements in agricultural productivity. These achievements stand as a testament to the resilience of participants and the dedicated support of project partners, local government, and beneficiaries alike.
