Women as Pillars of Peace and Progress: Driving Reconciliation and Development in Rwanda

At CARSA, we believe that gender equality and women’s empowerment are not just components of development and peacebuilding but are the foundation of sustainable progress and lasting peace. Women play an essential role in conflict resolution, resilience-building, and economic empowerment. Through our Empower Program, in collaboration with Compelled By Love, we have seen firsthand how women drive change and create impact at the grassroots level.

Out of the 12 community facilitators we work with, seven (7) are women, contributing significantly to peacebuilding, trauma healing, and capacity building for the most vulnerable. Their leadership has enabled us to train over 3,000 people in Kamonyi and Muhanga districts, transforming lives and strengthening communities.

The role of women extends beyond our direct programs. In our Resilience Community Groups (RCGs), which focus on economic and social empowerment, women hold leadership positions in 63% of the 86 groups. These women lead with compassion, strength, and vision, ensuring that their communities recover from past wounds and move toward a brighter future.

One of the remarkable women leading these initiatives is MUKANDAYISABA Donatha, a resident of Muhanga District, Muhanga Sector, Nganzo Cell. She leads a group of 13 people who are actively working to support vulnerable members of their community, reconciling families, promoting economic empowerment, and fostering unity.

One of their key initiatives is helping families escape poverty by providing livestock. Each member of the group contributes financially so that each person eventually receives a pig, a sustainable source of income. Today, 11 out of the 13 members have already received a pig, and the first piglets are expected soon.

For Donatha, this transformation could not be possible years ago without the support of CARSA.

“I came to the CARSA workshop as a person with a heavy heart and deep emotional wounds. The genocide had taken my father and relatives, and I lived in constant pain and conflict with those responsible. Forgiving seemed impossible.”

Her breakthrough came when she attended CARSA’s seven-day Empower Workshop, where she learned the power of forgiveness, reconciliation, and healing.

“The lessons I learned changed my life. I realized that it is possible to forgive even someone who hasn’t asked for forgiveness. I embraced this path, and today, we are all working together to develop ourselves and our community.”

Inspired by this newfound hope, Donatha brought together all 13 members who attended the workshop, and they formed a RCGs starting financial savings as the first activity. Every month, each member contributes 1,100 Rwf, allowing them to collect 14,300 Rwf per month—enough to buy a pig for one person at a time.

But their vision doesn’t stop there. The group has bigger plans beyond pig farming. They are preparing to launch a sustainable agricultural project by leasing land to cultivate passion fruits. This will create a long-term source of income, allowing them to invest in their families and strengthen their community’s economic foundation.

“After everyone receives a pig, we will start saving again to lease land and grow passion fruits. This will give our children opportunities to access fruits and provide a stable income for our future.”

The story of Donatha and her group proves a fundamental truth: when you educate and empower a woman, you uplift an entire community. Women are not just beneficiaries of development programs; they are leaders, change-makers, and visionaries who transform society from the ground up.

At CARSA, we remain committed to strengthening the capacity of women, equipping them with the tools they need to heal, lead, and build sustainable futures. Their stories inspire us to continue investing in peace, reconciliation, and economic development, knowing that empowered women hold the key to lasting transformation.

MUKANDAYISABA Donatha’s potrait photo

MUKANDAYISABA Donatha and her entire group along with CARSA community facilitator in right side