A generous donor recently made it possible for 52 women from the Aspire Rwanda programme to attend a training course led by the Rwandan Red Cross. The course gave the women practical tools that they could use to help others in their community and to gain employment.
Some of the Aspire women with their Red Cross course completion certificates
The Red Cross course provided specialised training in the following:
- General first aid;
- Burns prevention and care (burns are common in children, especially from paraffin lamps);
- Problematic and emergency labour assistance;
- Introduction to basic counselling skills.
The course was three days long, and the Red Cross was so impressed by the Aspire women that they gave Aspire an extra day of training pro bono to cover some additional topics.
Red Cross course completion ceremony
Importantly, the women took the course shortly before Genocide Memorial Day on 7th April, commemorating the 1994 Rwanda genocide. This is an extremely difficult time for the people of Rwanda, many of whom experience re-traumatisation and depression during the month-long time of remembrance. The Aspire women reported that this year the Red Cross training in basic mental health made them feel better equipped to cope with their own trauma and that of their family and others.
Additionally, the training means the women are now eligible to be employed by the Rwandan Red Cross in cases of emergency in Kigali or surrounding areas.
Peace Ruzage, Aspire’s CEO, and Aspire participants have requested further Red Cross training.
If you are interested in helping support Aspire, please contact Network for Africa CEO Annabel Harris, at annabel@network4africa.org or donate online.
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