Glen Williams
The Urumuri women’s group is composed of 20 members and is located in Karongi District, Western Province, Rwanda. The members of the group carry out the following activities:
Small-scale savings-and-credit schemes
Sharing and helping one another to solve family problems and to heal the inner pain that they face
Carrying out income-generating activities
Mutual support through praying together
The Quaker project, Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC), provides the Urumuri group with training and administrative support, and also acts as the link between the group and Oxford Friends.
In 2019 Friends in Oxford and Colthouse (Lake District) raised £736 from the sale of Christmas and greeting cards made by the members of the group. In 2020, because of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus, it was not possible for us to sell cards. However, several members of Oxford and Colthouse Friends Meetings made personal donations amounting to £700 to help the 20 members of the group meet some of their most urgent needs. Seven members of Urumuri wrote to tell us how they have used this financial support.
Josephine:
“At my age of 56, I am most grateful for the support that I have been given as a member of the group. I used to borrow money from our savings-and-loan group to support my small business. I sell fruits, especially bananas, which I sell to different food shops. But now that I have some extra money I am going to buy some avocados for sale. This will help my children and my husband, who is 78 and unable to work.”
Françoise: “
I’m a woman of 36, with two children. My husband left me in a rented house, for which I have to pay rent. He doesn’t help me financially. This money will help me to pay the rent on the house. The members of Urumuri keep encouraging me and caring for me through praying together. Because of COVID it’s very difficult to meet our daily needs. Being in this group, I can meet other people and I feel supported. We are very grateful to the people in the UK who are helping us and our children to survive this epidemic.”
Marie:
“I am 49. I have a husband, and our five children are all at school. I am very happy for this support, which will help me to pay school fees and to buy school materials for my children. We thank you, dear Oxford Friends, and wish you blessings from God our Father.”
Esperance:
“I’m 40 years of age and have four children who are all living with me. My husband left us and married another woman. The Friends Church [i.e. Quakers] encouraged me to join this women’s group, which aims to help all its members. They help me whenever I’m sick. They visit me and we pray together. With the money from Oxford Friends I will buy food for our children and I’ll also rent land where I can grow crops to help me feed my family.”
Thacienne:
“I am 39 years old and I live with my mother, my husband, and our five children, who are all at school. This support will help me to increase my capital in my small business of selling bananas and potatoes. We thank God for the people who have helped our group.”
Angélique:
“I am 36 years old and I have a family of five. Being a member of the Friends Church helps me to share ideas with others. Some of us want to learn how to make small baskets for sale, so this support will help me to buy raw materials for making baskets.”
Yvonne (group leader):
“We thank our Oxford Friends for their support in selling the cards we made in 2019, and for supporting us financially in 2020, when there was no market for the cards that we make. As the members of the Urumuri group, we love you and we will stay united, helping each other and welcoming new members to our group.”
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Forty-Three Newsletter • Number 502 • February 2021
Oxford Friends Meeting
43 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LW