Thanks to generous donations from guests of Wilderness Bisate and Wilderness Magashi, the Children in the Wilderness (CITW) and Wilderness Rwanda teams were able to complete four projects this month, directly benefiting the villages and schools in the Bisate and Gishwati areas. As usual in Rwanda, the projects were selected and managed by the Community Committees set up specifically for this purpose.
Bisate Primary School received an upgrade to their solar panel. They now have access to electricity – even at night – which the school uses to run outside lights along the corridors. The value of the repairs and upgrade totalled USD1 330, and has greatly improved the quality of education and safety in the classrooms.
With CITW’s assistance in 2021, the Tuzamurane Co-operative started a large-scale agricultural and indigenous tree nursery at Bisate village to provide indigenous saplings to Volcanoes National Park (for its expansion project), as well as agricultural trees as a food source for the community. Two plots of land were purchased in 2021, and water supply and all necessary equipment organised. Since then, the Co-operative has successfully grown and sold thousands of saplings, with the aim of growing another 15 000 in the coming year. This success does mean that a space for storage and administration was needed, and in August 2022 an office and storeroom was completed at a cost of USD4 000. The Tuzamurane Co-operative consists of 239 members from Bisate village, all of whom are benefiting from the successful nursery.
Two 10 000-litre and two 5 000-litre water tanks were installed at Bisate Secondary School. This project, valued at some USD4 000, will assist the school in harvesting rainwater from the roof for the school, as rural schools in Rwanda are often not connected to municipal water-lines. The construction of the foundations and installation of the water tanks was completed by a local company, making a much-appreciated contribution to the local economy.
The latest project implemented at Gisunzu Primary School is the installation of a new entrance gate. Last year the school grounds were improved with a volleyball field, efficient water drainage and an indigenous tree reforestation and landscaping project. To safely enclose the school grounds and protect the newly planted tree saplings and vegetable garden, a gate was needed to keep livestock out. This project was completed in August 2022 at a cost of USD1 800.
Aline Umutoni, CITW and Community Co-ordinator for Wilderness Rwanda, expressed her delight at the finalisation of the projects. “It is fantastic that we can keep supporting the schools and our communities. The people have really noticed the difference – and the improvements – in their lives since Wilderness started operating in the areas close to where they live. I am looking forward to implementing more important projects soon!”
