Rwanda

Damascus Trust has been running the Support A Parish programme in partnership with the Anglican Dioceses of Byumba (since 2008) and Gasabo (since 2015). We currently provide financial and prayer support for 28 parishes each month.

Byumba Diocese is about an hour’s drive north of Kigali and in a very hilly area extending up to the Ugandan border. Most people survive through subsistence farming as well as seasonal employment. Gasabo Diocese is on the north side of Kigali and is partly urban and partly rural, which presents its own difficulties.

Life is challenging for parishes and pastors alike in Rwanda. Most church buildings in our partner dioceses are currently closed as they do not meet updated building regulations. Significant amounts of money are needed to satisfy these regulations. Then many pastors face an uncertain future, especially in retirement. Stipends and pensions are small and finding a way to supplement their income is often necessary.

So DT is working with our partners in Rwanda to provide a means of help. To discover how you can help us help them, click here.

Damascus Trust has run conferences for pastors and wives, as well as for young people and we have established a Water-Harvesting Project Scheme in 33 parishes. Other self-help initiatives include UBUSHUTI, our trading name for selling baskets and cards made by our partners in Rwanda.

View photos of our work in Rwanda here.