SNV Rwanda, in partnership with Winrock, a USA based private not for profit organisation and the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE) – Rwanda, have successfully bided for a project to support the education of vulnerable children in Rwanda. The Rwanda Education Alternatives for Children (REACH), is a three and half years programme funded by the United States Department of Labour. It aims withdraw 5,200 children from exploitative labour and prevent another 3,000 from entering into child labour in seven targeted districts of Rwanda by March 2013, when it ends.

This is an innovative programme cuts across the sectors and value chains that SNV Rwanda works in. These include education, coffee, tourism, renewable energy/biogas and water, sanitation and hygiene. Child labour has been partly responsible for disappointing education outcomes in Rwanda, as many children are forced into it to make a living. About half a million children are estimated to be involved in child labour activities particularly in the agricultural sector. Apart from country wide sensitisation of stakeholders on child labour issues, SNV will use its value chain approach in the economic development sectors to increase productivity and incomes as well as improve rural entrepreneurship skills thereby reducing the need for cheap child labour.

SNV will continue using the value chain approach to increase productivity and incomes in the agriculture and tourism sectors. The Joint Action Development Forum and other multi stakeholder platform facilitation will be used to raise awareness at national level and in the districts. The programme will also provide a strengthened link with FAWE, a current SNV Rwanda partner in education.