On Monday, November 17, 2025, the residents of Nyakabuye Cell in Byimana Sector, Ruhango District, started their day with a tree-planting activity supported by Réseau des Femmes and Tubura.
This campaign is part of Réseau des Femmes’ environmental protection project titled ‘Protect Your Environment, Protect Your Life’ (PEPLA), which they implement in two cells of Byimana Sector, in partnership with ACORD Rwanda, AFD, and Terre Solidaire.
Grâce Nayiravugwa, PEPLA’s Project Coordinator, says that this activity aimed to encourage residents to plant trees as well as protecting them. “Today’s activity was intended to encourage residents to plant trees, but more importantly, to promote a culture of preserving trees from the time they are planted until they mature.” She said. This goal is also aligned with this year’s tree-planting theme: “My Tree, My Legacy!“
The residents who received the trees expressed their satisfaction with the activity.
“We welcomed this very well because trees give us fresh air and help us breathe clean air.’ He said. “We even used to buy seedlings. So, we are truly grateful for this campaign that provides them to us for free.” He added.
Another resident added that “Getting seedlings had become a challenge. I am going to plant about 20 trees and I will take very good care of them.”
Besides the residents who were happy to receive the trees, Bahore Jean Bosco is also pleased to have earned a job for preparing the seedlings that were distributed. He and his wife are among the 20 families, rights holders of the project “Protect Your Environment, Protect Your Life.”
After receiving training, through this project, on how to establish nurseries, he has now started benefiting from it. I started this business last year, after receiving the training. From preparing the seedlings until they are collected, I never earn less than 500,000 Rwandan francs.”
The trees provided to the residents were mainly agroforestry species and fruit trees, totalling more than 14,000. The Social and Development Officer (SEDO) of Nyakabuye Cell, Nyinawumuntu Marie Grâce, said that basing on the residents’ willingness to receive the trees, there is hope that they will also take good care of them.
“At 6:30 a.m. they were already here to collect the trees. The turnout they showed us is also an indication that they are going to take good care of them, and before giving them the trees, we also explained their importance for them.” She spoke.
Nyinawumuntu added that “We will continue following up with those who received the trees while also providing further guidance so they can take good care of them and benefit from them.”
Nyakabuye Cell states that it is home to 1,235 households. Of these, at least 1,227 households received trees.
