Jesuits in Rwanda Donate Food Items to the Vulnerable, A Response to COVID-19 Challenges

The food assistance was distributed among 50 families of five or more members each.

In total about 300 persons benefited from the food relief support, which amounted to 500 kilograms of beans, 500 kilograms of rice, 500 kilograms of maize flour, 150 litres of cooking oil, and 50 kilograms of salt.

Rwanda imposed a lockdown on March 22 and though it was partially lifted on May 4, public gatherings are still discouraged, many institutions are unable to fully function, and a number of people are still out of employment or without any form of income. Schools and places of worship remain closed in the landlocked nation in East Africa.

The governments’ lockdown orders have affected the livelihood of many people, among them individuals whose jobs and means of income and means of providing for their families have come to an end.

It is in response to these challenges that the leadership of JUC has sought to collaborate with local authorities in the sector of Remera, in order to support the most vulnerable families with basic necessities.

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Speaking at the May 7 event, the Director of JUC, Fr. Patrice Ndayisenga, expressed hopes that the Jesuits will be able to reach out to more vulnerable people in the suburbs of the City of Kigali in the near future.

Fr. Patrice promised that the Jesuit Urumuri Centre will continue to monitor the fate of the most vulnerable families and will stand by their side for as long as the Centre can reasonably do.

In remarks to the Jesuits, the Executive Secretary for Rukiri II Cell, Françoise Niyonsaba expressed gratitude to JUC for the much needed support to the citizens of her area, adding that her office has been overwhelmed with cries for help from the residents of her constituency.

“The majority are street vendors and those in the service industry; people such as waiters, cleaners, taxi-moto drivers and many others; we have felt helpless in face of the huge call for help at hand” Françoise said.

The gesture from JUC has also attracted appreciation from one of the beneficiaries.

“Before the outbreak of the pandemic, I was a street vendor and sold vegetables. My husband has had a mental illness for a long time, so I was the breadwinner of the family. The period of the lockdown has been difficult and challenging for my family, I am truly grateful to the Jesuits,” said Mrs. Mukabonera Francine, a mother of seven.

Rwanda has confirmed 284 cases of COVID-19. There have been at least 150 recoveries and no death has been reported in the East African nation.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.