Mrs NIRERE Jael

Gender Promotion Coordinator

Health and Gender Promotion

The Women, Family, and Counseling Department within the Protestant Council of Rwanda (CPR) is one of the five departments that make up this institution. It is supervised by the CPR Secretary General, in collaboration with the Department Head, who is responsible for the daily coordination of the department’s activities.

  • Background

The Women, Family, and Counseling Department was established in the 2000s to meet the specific needs of women members of Protestant churches in Rwanda. Initially, its activities focused primarily on supporting widows and orphans of the genocide against the Tutsi. Prior to this, all activities related to the advancement of women were carried out through projects assigned to other departments.

Over the years, the department has expanded its scope to include women’s empowerment, mental health promotion, Christian education within families, and women’s economic empowerment. Thanks to several strategic partnerships, it has been able to initiate national projects, develop expertise in post-traumatic counseling and strengthen its community presence in the various provinces of the country.

  • Motto

Women equipped for unfailing resilience

  • Vision

Equipping women to transform society

  • Mission

Empowering women for holistic change

1. Values

  • Protection of the family
  • Integrity in the family
  • Development of family well-being
  • Bravery in the family
  • Love of work
  • Pursuit of peace
  • Compassion for the family
  • Fidelity in the family
  • Equity and gender equality in the family
  • Objectives
  • Help women contribute to the fulfillment of the Church’s mission
  • Educate women for social change based on family empowerment
  • Support women in the process of sustainable socio-economic integration
  • Intervene on behalf of women experiencing psycho-socio-economic difficulties.

Women represent a large majority of the Rwandan population. The fifth General Population and Housing Census indicated that over 51% of Rwandans are female. This trend is also reflected in church circles, although no in-depth research has yet been conducted to confirm its predominance.

In an effort to decentralize the services offered by the Department of Women, Family, and Counseling, we plan to establish a center in each province. Currently, there are three.

  1. CPR Counseling Center – Kigali
  • Location: Amajyambere Village, Kimihurura Cell, Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District, Kigali City. The center is located alongside the administrative headquarters of the Protestant Council of Rwanda. 2. CPR Counseling Center – Musanze
  • Location: Susa Village, Ruhengeri Cell, Muhoza Sector, Musanze District, Northern Province.
  1. CPR Counseling Center – Kayonza
  • Location: Abisunganye Village, Bwiza Cell, Mukarange Sector, Kayonza District, Eastern Province.

Staffing Planned for Each Center

  • Center Manager

The center has a mental health technician responsible for counseling who provides consultation services and related training.

  • Watchman/Sentinel
  • Cleaner

Main Activities at the Centers

  • Individual and group counseling
  • Clinical supervision of mental health providers in partner churches
  • Training of religious leaders on the integration of faith-based counseling
  • Establishment and supervision of anti-trauma clubs in schools
  • Supervision of anti-trauma activities in schools surrounding the Centers
  • Community counseling for female genocide survivors
  • Discussion group sessions to strengthen post-traumatic resilience
  • Support for Income Generating Activities (IGAs) for beneficiaries in the process of recovery
  • Training in family nutrition and mental health care
  • Trauma management training for teachers and school leaders
  • Psychological support for adolescent girls who are victims of gender-based violence (GBV)

Services Offered at the Centers

  • Counseling / psychological support
  • Psychosocial support
  • Family education
  • Women’s leadership training
  • Support for women experiencing psychological distress
  • Training in personal development and Economic autonomy
  • Technical assistance for IGAs
  • Community awareness raising on gender-based violence
  • Supervision of anti-trauma clubs
  • Peace and resilience education

These centers provide easier access to services for women members of churches and organizations affiliated with the CPR.

These centers offer psychological counseling, psychosocial support, family education, and women’s leadership training.

Health and Gender Promotion Structure

Health and Gender Promotion Projects

The department’s activities are planned according to its mission and objectives, taking into account the needs expressed by the women beneficiaries. The main activities include:

  • The Trauma Project, dedicated to psychosocial support in post-conflict settings and community mental health training.

  • In this framework, the main activities include:

  • Organization of certified training courses in psychotraumatology for healthcare providers, community leaders, and church leaders.

  • Individual and group therapeutic support for survivors of severe trauma.

  • Economic support for those recovering from trauma (AGR).

  • Clinical supervision and capacity building for local mental health counselors.

  • Creation of anti-trauma clubs in schools.

  • Community awareness-raising on mental health and trauma management.

  • Integration of faith-based counseling into community care practices.

  • Technical advice to CPR member organizations in the implementation of psychosocial approaches.

  • Development of psychotraumatology training modules adapted to the Rwandan context.

  • Organizing sessions and clinical supervision for frontline workers.

  • Conducting action research on the impacts of trauma and community therapeutic approaches.

  • Creating a network of psychotraumatology practitioners to promote the exchange of experiences and skill building.

  • Creating the Rwandan Organization of Psychotraumatology Experts.

  • Establishing the Trauma Integration Network in the Great Lakes Region.

  • Health-related initiatives, including HIV/AIDS awareness, family nutrition, and access to mental health care.

  • The Gender and Women program, which promotes women’s rights and combats.

The department benefits from the collaboration of several technical and financial partners, including.

  • The Gender and Women program, which promotes women’s rights, combats gender-based violence (GBV), promotes economic empowerment, and promotes female leadership.

  • The World Council of Churches (WCC)

  • The Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA)

  • Food for the Hungry in Rwanda (FFH)

  • Bread for the World (PPLM)

  • UNICEF

  • The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF)

  • The Ministry of Health (MINISANTE)

  • CPR member churches and affiliated organizations

  • Gender Monitoring Organ (GMO)

Women's Empowerment and Gender Promotion

Our Partners

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