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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Family conflict remains a serious issue in Rwandan society, often leading to violence between spouses, children dropping out of school due to a lack of care, and disputes over property and financial resources.
Through its KIIWP project in Kayonza District, RAB introduced a training approach known as Gender Action Learning System (GALS), focusing on families who were already struggling with conflict.
One of those families is that of Nganji Jacques and Iradukunda Chantal, residents of Bugambira Cell, Ruramira Sector, in Kayonza District. They shared how GALS transformed their home after five years of constant disputes. They explained that many of the conflicts were rooted in cultural beliefs in their community.
Nganji said, “I married the woman I loved because I wanted a family. But here, there is a belief that if a man helps his wife with household chores, it means she has bewitched him. After three months of marriage, I refused to help with anything except farm work just so neighbors wouldn’t say I was under my wife’s spell.”
He added that he started spending most of his time drinking. He would spend the family’s income or even sell harvests to buy alcohol.
“I regret the years I wasted in alcoholism,” he admitted. “I stole from my family just to buy drinks for others, pretending to be a man in control. If I calculate now, the money I wasted could have built us a decent house.”
Chantal, his wife, said the GALS trainings felt like an answer to the prayers she had cried for years:
“My husband used to come home drunk, insulting and beating me. Many nights, I wanted to run away. Even our neighbors knew the situation was bad.”
But things began to change in 2023, after they joined the GALS sessions. They now share household responsibilities and plan together for their family’s development.
“One day, I had gone to the farm. When I came back, he had cooked, cleaned, and even put our child to sleep. I thought I was dreaming; he had never shown such care in five whole years,” she explained joyfully. “These trainings brought peace into our family. He also quit drinking back in 2020, and he has never gone back.”
Gisa Shakila, a staff member with RAB-SPIU leading the KIIWP project in Kayonza, said that the program has brought significant positive change.
“We started with families experiencing serious conflict, but now others are requesting the training. It’s not only about solving disputes; they also learn how to manage household finances, create income-generating projects, save money, and work with financial institutions.”
Kayonza District Mayor Nyemazi Jean Bosco emphasized that GALS should expand further: “Currently, GALS is active in nine sectors, but we want it to reach all sectors because of its great impact. Today, 500 people completed the training, and 65 couples have legally formalized their marriages. We launched publicly a campaign that has the theme of “Iwanjye aheza haruta ahandi ni mu muryango.”
Poor families are provided with cows under the Girinka Munyarwanda program, while other poor people are provided with beds in exchange for end-of-disorder bedding.
The KIIWP project began GALS activities in 2023 with a goal of training 40,000 people within five years. In only two years, more than 16,000 have already completed the program.
Some images of the GALS graduation ceremony
