Oxfam Ireland Core Country: Rwanda
Country Statistics
| Population: | 9.9 million |
| Year of Independence: | 1962 |
| Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 births): | 85.3 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | 49 years |
| People living with HIV and AIDS: | 5.1% / 250,000 (2003 est.) |
| Literacy (people aged 15 and over that are literate): | 70.4% (2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 60% (2001 est.) |
| Currency: | Rwandan Franc |
| Other info: | Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa |
Oxfam in Rwanda:
Oxfam Ireland Livelihoods Support Programme in Rwanda supports 19 partner organizations to increase access to food and income; improve education; reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on people infected and affected by AIDS; and to increase people's participation in their own governance.
Peacebuilding and National Reconciliation
60% of Rwandans currently live below the national poverty line, 40% in extreme poverty. Rwanda has made progress over the past year, including the free and fair local elections of 2002, the publication of Vision 2020 setting a long-term agenda for Rwanda's development, and an internationally endorsed Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) designed to deliver this agenda.
Oxfam Ireland in partnership with Oxfam Great Britain, has supported Peacebuilding and National Reconciliation work in Rwanda since 2002. Oxfam works at grass roots level with individual communities training key representatives in conflict management skills. The community's Njyanama (a council of all adult community members) is then offered a poverty reduction grant. Through the process of discussing how best to use this for the benefit of the community, issues arise, conflicts are dealt with and the community learns and 'practices' how to work better together for the common good.
Useful Links:
Human Rights Watch World Report 2003
Oxfam Great Britain - Genocide Questions and Answers
Making a Difference
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