The RDIS is involved in a wide range of projects, aiming to reach out to as many people as possible.  We have a strong focus on Integral Mission – both proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel, catering for people’s physical as well as spiritual needs.  Some of our projects include:

Set up in 2005, the Youth at Risk project aims to give vocational training to young people (aged 14-21) who are otherwise unable to pursue secondary education – either as they are orphans, living on the street or in families living in extreme poverty.  The students follow a one-year course of welding, carpentry, sewing or knitting, and are helped to find a job in that area.  As well as this the Youth at Risk have daily devotions in the morning, and are taught other subjects such as English, French and agriculture.  Currently there are 10 Youth at Risk projects, but we are hoping to develop one in every parish.

About 90% of Rwandans rely on subsistence farming, mostly on very small land.  We are very much involved in supporting such farmers, with many of our staff being qualified agronomists who teach local farmers better techniques for growing crops.  For example, kitchen gardens - tiered gardens (seen above) that are very good for growing crops on a small area of land - are being encouraged, with demonstration gardens being built in every parish.  We are also involved in donating animals - pigs, goats, cows, chickens and rabbits - to teach animal husbandry and to provide manure and food for the household, to help prevent poverty.  We also employ a vet to minister to the animals.

In partnership with UK charity Tearfund, the RDIS run a Transform team programme, inviting young people on short-term mission trips to work with us, transforming themselves as well as the community.  Since 2001 we have received 6-week summer teams, and as of 2009 we have started running a 4-month programme as well.  For more information on the Transform programme, visit its website.

We are now producing a quarterly newsletter, which gives more current information on the goings-on of the 4 dioceses.  The first edition was introduced by the first 4-month Transform Team, who translated some of the articles into French.


The first edition can be downloaded here.  
The second edition can be downloaded here