Empowerment for indigenous People; Batwa in Rwanda

Dear Esteemed Patrons,

We deeply appreciate the generous support you have provided thus far, which has made a significant impact on empowering the Batwa community in Rwanda.

To date, we have raised $789 toward our $30,000 goal, and these funds have been used to support pottery activities. As we’ve shared before, over 80% of the Batwa, a marginalized group, live in chronic poverty, which leads to numerous negative consequences such as malnutrition, diseases related to poor hygiene, infectious illnesses, and low education levels. The educational situation for the Batwa is especially concerning, with the lowest levels of attendance and the highest dropout rates in Rwanda. According to a survey conducted by COPORWA, only 34% of Batwa have attended school, less than 1% have attended secondary school, and no one has completed higher education.

Our project aims to offer education and improve the socio-economic status of approximately 1,000 Batwa through personal talent development and income-generating micro-projects. Additionally, we plan to provide basic literacy skills in reading and writing for out-of-school youth and parents. However, we have not yet been able to begin these crucial activities. We hope to start implementing them in the next two months, provided we can secure the necessary funding.

We sincerely thank you for your continued support and humbly ask for your generous contributions to our Indigenous empowerment project to help us achieve our goals. You might also consider making a monthly recurring donation, which will allow us to sustain our ongoing efforts. Once again, thank you for everything you have done for our cause, and we look forward to your continued support.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Jean Damascene UWIZEYIMANA
President, RWAYDAVO