There is nothing more enriching than helping those who have found themselves in the depths of addiction, not by their own choice, but due to various reasons, with many being a result of the trauma from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – Purpose Rwanda.
For over half a decade, Purpose Rwanda has focused on raising a Purposeful and Addiction-Free Generation. This is done through Prevention, Rehabilitation, Purpose Development, and Reintegration. Reintegration, which marks the last and pivotal stage for former addicts, is significant to ensure that recovered addicts become active members of the community, contributing to socio-economic development. Reintegration, coupled with socio-economic empowerment, leads to income generation, savings, investment, and poverty eradication, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1. No poverty, Goal 2. Zero Hunger, and Goal 3. Good Health and Wellbeing.
The journey of over 1,600 addicts to recovery began in 2021 and 2022, progressing to 2023 and 2024, leading to the graduation phase. This journey continues until the 57 Purposeful Agents of Transformation who graduated on November 27 are successfully reintegrated back into their communities. The key idea is that reintegration should address critical factors that help the Purposeful Agents of Transformation participate in community development, empowering them to achieve self-sufficiency first and foremost, then, contributing to community development.
After rehabilitating over 400 addicts, more than 70 enrolled in the purpose development process with the main objective being to prepare the recovered Purpose Rwanda Beneficiaries as Purposeful Agents of Transformation, enabling them to attain self-sufficiency and participate in poverty eradication. Out of these students, 57 successfully met the graduation requirements after completing various subjects/courses lasting six months:
- The role of small group and cooperative in transformation.
- Basic English Language (Introductory)
- Soft skills and Application in daily life
- Basic Business Skills and Knowledge
- Basic Business Mathematics
- Self -sufficiency: implications to the family, community and country
- Nation policy in poverty reduction and development.
- Purpose Discovery Session and Mentorship
- Leadership and Management
- God as a Worker and His Plan for Mankind
- Sustainable Development
- Days of field visit per month
- Life Purpose Group Project
- Final Oral and written Examinations/Assessment
The 57 PATs, upon successful completion of their studies, formed themselves into groups aimed at achieving a shared life purpose/project guided by the following expected outcomes: Ensuring an improvement in the welfare of group members and their families through income from projects; Capital accumulation and increased group investment; Sustained poverty eradication and community transformation with a direct multiplying effect on more than 10 people per annum per group; PATs participating in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, and 3; and PATs contributing to the fight against addiction in their communities.
Thanks to the partnership of various stakeholders in the successful rehabilitation process of recovered addicts, including the annual financial support from Jali Investment to save and transform lives, the involvement of Ministry Gateway in the Reintegration Projects, and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Reseau Interdiocesain De Microfinance and Purpose Rwanda. This MoU is an additional hope for the reintegration of the Purposeful Agents of Transformation.
That is not all: The Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, National Rehabilitation Service, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Ralex Logistics, AOS, Speranza Group Limited, among others not mentioned, including various individuals, all played a fundamental role in the work together with Purpose Rwanda in building a Purposeful and Addiction Free Rwanda.
The story depicted in the colorful graduation photos of the Purposeful Agents of Transformation on November 27 cannot fully capture the essence of that momentous day.
Through more partnerships, we become stronger in building a Purposeful and Addiction-Free Generation.
