Mayange, Rwanda Nyamata, Rwanda

Village Projects Millennium Villages, Rwanda: Turning the Page on Poverty In a country known as the “pays des milles collines” (“land of 1,000 hills”), Millennium Villages are helping Rwanda to turn the page on poverty. In Rwanda, 90% of the population engages in subsistence agriculture and approximately 52% are living on $1 or less per day. Disease such as HIV infection and malaria are high. Over 55% of Rwandan households use surface water for cooking, cleaning, and hygiene practices. Far from an ideal source, surface water is easily contaminated by parasites and other pathogens. This only adds to the burden of disease and the poverty trap. But all of this is beginning to change because of Millennium Villages. By delivering practical and proven tools in a coprehensive manner across the areas of agricutlure, health, education, micro-finance, and infrastructure, Millennium Villages are explicitly achieving all eight of the Millennium Development Goals in Mayange, Rwanda. In fact, the project has been so successful in Mayange that the government of Rwanda recently announced its plans to scale the Millennium Villages project to all 30 districts under its Vision 2020-Umurenge initiative, part of the national development strategy. Each district has designated its neediest sector for Millennium Village interventions, thereby taking the project to unprecedented scale. Millennium Congregation is partnering with the Millennium Villages Project in Rwanda to help develop the next Millennium Villages. Rwanda is an important country for Millennium Congregation to focus its work for several reasons: Rwanda allows for a very focused effort in the two major foci of our initiative: partnerships to deliver investments in ending poverty and the building of relationships that promote justice, compassion, and reconciliation - amongst Rwandans as they continue to heal, reconcile and build their nation following the 1994 genocide; between congregants in North America and the people of Rwanda; and across the diverse faith communities of the donor congregations A strong parntership with the Millennium Villages Project in Rwanda creates an ideal situation to develop mutually-beneficial and collaborative working relationships Rwanda is safe and its government is democratic, transparent, accountable, and has proven their deep commitment to, and engagement with, the Millennium Development Goals. Rwanda is well positioned to establish Millennium Villages and end extreme poverty nationally with further investments in the practical and proven approach of Millennium Villages. Our engagement in ending extreme poverty is a real opportunity to help Rwanda continue the hopeful and reconciling work that is leading to transformative progress. The Millennium Village in Mayange is a shining example of true reconciliation that is happening because of the focus on ending poverty and building lives of shared peace and prosperity. Learn more about the Millennium Villages project in Mayange, Rwanda Join Millennium Congregation's efforts to build on the success in Mayange and fund a new Millennium Village in Nyamata, Rwanda.

The Millennium Villages project is addressing multiple problems and teaching the communities to lead the interventions, therefore transforming village agriculture, education and health.[...] Like all parents, I worry about my children’s future, but the Millennium Villages project has given me hope that their future will be full of opportunity. - Ndahayo Celestin, Mayange, Rwanda

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