AVEGA AGAHOZO (Association des Veuves du Génocide Agahozo)
The organisation is rooted in the belief that unity makes strength. Only through our combining efforts can we successfully overcome challenges and move towards a brighter future.
Mission Statement
AVEGA is working to foster social justice for widows of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi as well as other vulnerable women, children and families affected by conflict. We do this through improving access to healthcare, socio-economic opportunities and by enhancing gender parity, allowing members to transform and rebuilding their lives.
Our Vission
AVEGA seeks a nation of optimism where vulnerable women, children and families lead a dignified life free from all forms of conflict.
Activities and Focus
What We Do
AVEGA undertakes the following activities in achieving its mission:
- Improving the general welfare of genocide survivors
- Participating in national reconstruction processes including peace-building and reconciliation
- Undertaking projects and programmes with an emphasis on health and socio-economic empowerment
- Fighting HIV and other diseases that affect our members
- Fighting to prevent gender-based violence
- Helping members to help themselves by establishing self-help groups
- Delivering training programmes for women and young people on income-generating activities and capacity building
- Assisting our beneficiaries to secure short-term business loans
- Training community-based counselling and trauma support volunteers
- Establishing and maintaining health care centres and care homes for elderly widows without families
- Collecting and preserving genocide testimonies
- Protecting the rights of children and the elderly
Challenges
The most pressing challenges at present include:
- A high number of HIV-positive women due to rape
- A high number of members with disabilities
- Trauma related issues such as loneliness, feelings of hopelessness and PTSD
- A large number of orphans and young people facing malnutrition and a lack of access to education
- A large number of survivors who are living in substandard housing because they haven’t been able to maintain it
- Extreme poverty linked to mental health issues
- Gender-related legal issues such as land ownership
- A large number of unrecovered bodies