GITEGA, August 30th (ABP) – On Monday 26 August 2024, the Minister for Gender, Mrs. Imelde Sabushimike, proceeded with the inauguration of an integrated development center for the women of Gitega “CDIFG” built by the commune of Gitega with financial support from the International Association of Francophone Mayors “AIMF”, a check on a site by ABP has revealed.
The event was also attended by AIMF delegate general Frédéric Vallier, the governor of Gitega province Venant Manirambona, Gitega commune administrator Dr. Jacques Nduwimana, the chairwoman of the Gitega commune council Dr. Sylvie Nzeyimana, and administrators from the communes of Gitega province.
In his welcoming speech, the administrator of the Gitega commune, Dr Jacques Nduwimana, warmly thanked the AIMF for having supported the commune, of which he is the director, in its project to promote the empowerment of women, by building a center that currently supports 750 women and 8 men grouped together in 19 cooperatives.
Mr. Nduwimana pointed out that this center will provide advisory support to women’s cooperatives, and will provide vocational training and capacity-building in the craft industries, particularly sewing, embroidery, weaving, basketry, pottery and shoemaking. The center will also promote women’s entrepreneurship and provide information and education sessions on communication, sexual and reproductive health and family planning. The center will also promote women’s entrepreneurship and provide information and education sessions on communication, sexual and reproductive health and family planning. He went on to point out that the center’s activities will only be sustainable if several players work together, including the commune of Gitega, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of National Solidarity, various civil society organizations and various development partners. It is for this reason that he wanted this center to be a common space for all women in all their diversity; a space where each woman is welcomed, listened to, accompanied and supported to realize her dreams of development. So that women’s financial autonomy reaches a satisfactory level throughout the commune.
Taking the floor, the minister in charge of gender, Mrs. Sabushimike, encouraged the commune of Gitega and the AIMF for all the projects they are carrying out in synergy, particularly the construction of that center. She urged the women to take advantage of the benefits of that center and to raise awareness among other women so that they can be integrated into the center. The minister in charge of national solidarity urged women to join cooperatives massively, and to each choose a trade that help them. She also urged them to take the lead in implementing all the government’s projects, including family planning, and supporting the zero-waste programme in households and the workplace, to name but a few.