AFRICA/RWANDA - Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts launch Seeds of Life and Hope programme to teach techniques of farming and animal breeding to promote social and economic insertion of women in difficulty and young deaf people

Kigali (Agenzia Fides)- On 13 November the community of Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Nyamata Bugesera district of Rwanda will launch Seeds of Life and Hope, to teach poor people techniques of farming and animal breeding as a means of social and economic insertion for women in difficulty and young people who are deaf. The programme is funded by the Italian Bishops’ Conference. This Italian Congregation founded by Saint Filippo Smaldone, apostle of the deaf, has been present in Rwanda since 1987. Among those present for the occasion superior general Sr Maria Longo, vicar general Sr Ines De Giorgi, the religious community and local authorities.
The aim - Sr Maria Longo explained - is to reduce poverty and help disadvantaged families. The programme consists of small cooperatives for farming and animal breeding. “We have built a farm with various kinds of animals and fields where about 100 people can learn the techniques of modern farming and animal breeding”.
In this way the presence of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts in Nyamata is a rural mission for human promotion with special attention for women in difficulty and minors in serious danger of social exclusion. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/11/2006 righe 25 parole 283