1st #Umuganda Day of 2015

Every last Saturday of the month is #Umuganda day. #Umuganda is a day village communities around Rwanda get together to clean up or help build someone a home or something. Everyone is encouraged to go. Those that don’t go pay a fine of RWF 5000.

On this 31st of January 2015, the first one for the year, my village finished cleaning early – and started meeting. Chairman warned it’s be a long meeting and indeed it was. 2 whole hours after almost 2 hours of cleaning.
Thank God that the community came together to build an office with a shade for meetings – a first in the entire district.

Agenda
1) Community security is the main event

2) Ubudehe

3) #IntwariNyarwanda (Heroes day) celebrations.

4) AOB

First order of business – those coming after a long time were asked to stand and explain why they delayed.

Second – a truly inspiring man – disabled (standing on one leg) but never misses #Umuganda. He spoke about the importance of this day
1) to get to know your community
2) know current affairs pertaining to the community
3) community can help you deal with a problem

Third – review and follow-up of previous minutes

Forth – community security – especially two streets that have growing number of petty thieves – stealing handbags/phones & in some cases motor cycle taxis. The ring leader of the motor cycle taxi mugging was arrested (thank God). To my surprise, it was a high school girl – who would take the motto taxi and have guys waiting at the end of the trip – go figure. We must be vigilant and make sure we know who is standing outside our gates that could be pretending to stand there.
We are also urged to look out for each other and come to each other’s rescue.

The demand for metal by the kilo is causing a lot of theft. Stealing house numbers, street signs. It’s a big problem around the city, not just in our village. We need to find a solution.

We need more local defense and we need to light up our streets. Domestic help who live in those streets take center stage and offer their thoughts.

Someone even suggested training by police for the night guards/domestic help. Great idea in my book.

Fifth Ubudehe
Ubudehe helps us identify the neediest among us to make sure they are taken care of. More information here>>> http://rwandapedia.rw/explore/ubudehe#sthash.2NwhHWjX.dpuf

There will now be 4 categories and there’s going to be a new census like process to determine the poverty level of each household. We decided that our village will be exemplary and ensure we participate. It was decided that starting Monday all Heads-of-Households must go with ID – answer questions and will be later told what category they are in.

3) Heroes day to be celebrated at 9am tomorrow Feb 1st at our community office – all encouraged to go.

4) AOB.

Message from our Health reps. All newborns must be registered. The was a fine of sorts (igihano) for those that didn’t register newborns – this has been removed so that every new born child can be registered.

Going forward – all children will be registered at birth. Parents must have ID or mutuelle card at birth – go to hospital with chosen names😃. I think will be critical to development as it helps us ID people from the get go, making it easier it is to plan for our people.

Finally, chairman announced that we have a volunteer who would like to contribute to the fight against illiteracy. She will be offering lessons at our office teaching illiterate community members, including domestic help how to read and write. One of the best things I’ve heard at #Umuganda a big #WIN for the community.

Great Umuganda 😃 – hope yours was just as good.

Some pics of the day.

Our community office

My hero of the day, who rarely misses Umuganda even though disabled.

Domestic help from the streets where petty theft is rampant – providing insights on security.

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