TURI KUMWE Newsletter | 2023 Quarter 2

Ozonnia Ojielo

UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Dear esteemed partners and colleagues,

I am thrilled to share with you the second edition of the UN Rwanda Newsletter.

This publication serves as a testament to the incredible progress and inspiring stories that have emerged from various Joint Programmes we are implementing with your excellent and unwavering support and fruitful partnership. Within the pages of this newsletter, you will discover stories that embody the resilience, innovation, and determination of the people of Rwanda.

These stories highlight the transformative power of collaborative efforts and the positive impact that the United Nations Country Team, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and Development Partners, made in various areas of development. One such story takes us to Eastern Rwanda, at Maranyundo Girls School, where a group of talented young minds shine in the field of robotics. Through their dedication and creativity, these girls are defying expectations and embracing a world of endless possibilities.

We also delve into the realm of healthcare, where the UN's 1000 Health Posts Joint Programme has brought relief to communities, ensuring easier access to vital healthcare services. Testimonies of Mothers like Nimuyizere 's echo the sentiments of countless individuals who no longer have to endure long distances to receive the care they need. In Western Rwanda, meet Mr. Emmanuel Nahayo, a young engineer who lives with albinism. Inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities are at the forefront of our endeavours and the powerful words of Nahayo show that together we can strive to create a society that embraces diversity and recognizes the inherent strength in every individual. Inclusion is a strength.

There is Hope Away from Home. This Newsletter will also take you to Southern Rwanda, in Mugombwa Refugee Camp. The spirit of resilience continues to prevail in the face of adversity, as demonstrated by Desange Nyiramugisha, a Congolese refugee who has transformed her family's life through agricultural initiatives. By engaging in farming, she has ensured food security and provided hope and inspiration to those facing similar challenges. Dear Readers, In this quarter the United Nations Country Team has carried out various activities and events, but one of them is the commemoration of the second International Day for Countering Hate Speech. In the hybrid event, education emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against hate speech, as diplomats and experts emphasized its significance in countering Hate Speech and preventing tragedies like the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Through education, we can create a more inclusive and compassionate world. Early June, I had the pleasure to welcome Mrs. Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States. She had very productive engagements with our government counterparts on the upcoming 3rd United Nations Conference on the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), which Rwanda will host in June next year. In her words, “Rwanda is ready.” In this quarter we also embarked on crafting the new UN Rwanda Common Country Analysis which will inspire our next Cooperation Framework.

This was a snapshot of what you are going to read, and I invite you to immerse yourself in the compelling human-interest stories contained within this newsletter, stories that exemplify the remarkable progress and boundless potential of Rwanda. May they inspire you to continue supporting our shared vision of achieving Sustainable Development Goals Leaving No one Behind.

Turikumwe!