The support from the Missions Office of the Diocese of San Diego has enabled different social development programs to be implemented for the common good in the Diocese of Nyundo, Rwanda.
The Diocese of Nyundo was severely affected by the genocide of 1994 that claimed over 800,000 million lives in the country. The Diocese lost 35 priests in the war. Schools, Dispensaries/Clinics and Rectories were destroyed. The genocide left behind many orphans and widows. The orphans have grown but many did not have a chance to go to school because they had no parents or relatives to pay for their education. The economic challenges the orphans and the poor families experienced from the after effects of the genocide greatly affected the future of young girls. In recent years, the Diocese has been experiencing a high number of single mothers and a huge dropout of young girls from elementary schools.
The Diocesan pastoral care programs have tremendously improved people’s social well-being through the different activities. The vocational training Centers where these single mothers receive training in tailoring have empowered them with practical skills to create jobs and generate income to support their families. The Diocese has 260 elementary schools. It has improved the sanitation facilities especially in rural schools to keep girls in school, to promote the education of the girl child. The orphanage closed by the government has been renovated and converted into a nursery and elementary school by the diocese. Most school buildings and Churches had asbestos roofing. The Diocese has since put-up new roofs on Church buildings as recommended by the government health professionals.
The Diocese of Nyundo, Rwanda, Africa was assigned to Most Precious Blood Church, Chula Vista in 2018 and St. John the Evangelist Church and St. Vincent de Paul Church, San Diego in 2019 for Missionary Cooperation Plan. They are assigned to Christ the King Church, San Diego and Our Lady of the Light Church, Descanso for MCP 2021.
Fr. John Bosco for the Diocese of Nyundo