FXB Village Model Program

"Originally developed to combat extreme poverty and communities affected BY HIV/AIDS"

Villages: Gasharu 1, Gasharu 2, Rwaza, Rwerere and Kigali Skol

Program Introduction

FXBVillages program has been implemented in 65 FXBVillages across Southern, Western , Eastern and Kigali City since 2000. The program is a 3 year integrated approach providing support to poor families in education, nutrition, health and housing to meet their immediate needs while building their income capacity to become economically self- sufficient.

In Fall of 2018, FXB Rwanda has implemented two other FXBVillages programs: FXBVillage Mbare in Muhanga District and FXBVillage Mbuga in Rubavu District.

The program’s main activities are the development of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) for households, provision of basic medical care and nutritional support. Educational sessions on the most effective methods to prevent HIV and response to the pandemic including the role played by hygiene, health, nutrition, the environment, and community development. Raising awareness for children’s rights and decreasing of stigmatization and discrimination towards HIV infected individuals. FXB Rwanda believe these area of focus will create a healthier environment while protecting the safety, respect and dignity of individuals within FXBVillages.

Education

Education is a primary focal point for FXBVillage in aiding to facilitate children’s access to primary and secondary schools, vocational training and educating parents about the appropriate rearing and care of their children. FXBVillage also provides Early Childhood Development and after school activities as part of their education methodology.

FXB firmly believes that children who receive continuous education will be equipped to face the challenges of adulthood and understand their rights and capabilities. A process that contributes to children becoming responsible and productive members of society.

FXB hopes to contribute to the equality of education between boys and girls through education and training forms of early empowering initiatives. These varied initiatives will lead children towards a more self-sufficient and economically stable future.

Furthermore, FXB contributes to the improvement of equality between boys and girls in education. ECD and after school activities are also integral part of the FXBVillage education methodology.

Economic empowerment

FXB Rwanda ensure participants have a constant and regular income through the Income Generating Activities (IGA) enabling them to meet their basic needs and that of the vulnerable children in their care. The program aids in the initial start up cost by providing in kind grants of about $135USD to every household to purchase livestock, products or durable goods based on the IGA each family or individual will undertake to support and care of their family and children.

Beneficiaries are developing various Income Generating Activities:
Trading food products;
Trading charcoal;
Operating restaurants and refreshment booths;
Operating hair salons;
Operating second-hand clothing shops;
Creating sewing, stitching, and basketwork workshops;
Operating shops that sell basic commodities;

Technical skills training

The program educates participants through trainings on various topics such as kitchen gardening, personal and environmental hygiene etc. The program forms and offers technical support to new and existing members of internal saving and Lending Groups and train them on ISLG approach and financial literacy- bookkeeping, management and share out.

Nutrition

To aid in the fight against malnutrition, FXBVillages provide households with food supplements during the first year of enrollment for nine months allowing them to meet their daily needs and develop their IGA. Extra food supplements are provided to people suffering from severe malnutrition, children, and people on HIV treatment. Nutrition component consists of conducting the nutrition screening of children regularly to assess and monitor their nutrition status for their overall development.

Health & HIV Aids Prevention

FXBVillage Program supports households to improve their health status by: covering their health insurance fees (commonly known as Mituelle de Santé) for them to afford meds, providing trainings on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, other diseases and their prevention. This generates a better understanding of HIV/AIDS, both to encourage VCT and fight discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The program encourages voluntary counselling and testing through collective information sessions. It is however essential to note that this process is not time-bound.

Each individual functions in a different manner and is receptive to different information dissemination strategies. This is why HIV prevention work, especially voluntary counselling and testing, is administered both at the collective and individual level, respecting people’s processes of change

WASH

FXBVillage Program supports beneficiaries to improve their WASH behaviors and practices through trainings on different aspects of WASH (water treatment and usage, hand washing stations, personal and environmental hygiene). The program distributes WASH Kits (soaps, jerry cans, basins) to beneficiaries, to be used at home and their daily hygiene activities. FXBVillage Program also accompanies and encourages the beneficiaries to support each other in the construction of latrines and renovation of houses. Further, the program distributes iron sheets to the most vulnerable as a means to have improved latrines.

FXB Village Model Program is funded by Mairie de Paris, EU Can Aid, Symphasis, Fondation Augusta, UNIBRA and SKOL