Economic resilience of Genocide widows of AVEGA in Eastern Province of Rwanda

AVEGA is a non-profit making organization of Rwanda genocide widows which was established in 1995. It renders and performs its activities all over Rwanda. It is comprised of 20,312 widows and 71,478 of their dependants, mainly orphans (AVEGA, Annual report, 2012).The association helps widows and their dependents escape the poverty, anguish and misery that filled their lives following the genocide of 1994. It works with others partners to improve the social economic conditions of members. This paper analyses focus on the Eastern Province Branch and examines the social economic resilience of different projects realized, among them livestock projects, handcraft projects, business projects, crop husbandry such as the pepper project, and the livelihood program, in one hand; in other hand, the association had put in place some projects which help to produce revenue for the finance himself.
The establishment of these economic activities for widows (individually or cooperatives) has improved the welfare and living standards of the beneficiaries and has taught them to initiate and maintain sustainable projects rather than to be too reliant on others. This has helped to rebuild the confidence of beneficiaries, and though many still endure extreme poverty, it has helped them to make a step towards greater independence.