USAID calls for the mainstreaming of Gender and Social Inclusion in its Funded Projects
Mrs. Joselyne lives with the hearing impairment and is serving as the Supervisor and Welfare Officer at Masaka Creamery Factory
Kigali, 13th December, 2018: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG) being implemented in Rwanda has called for the integration of Gender and Social Inclusion in SMEs and Cooperatives business model as an important step towards the empowerment of youth, women and people with disabilities
The call was made on Thursday 13th December 2018 during a Leaning event on Gender and Social Inclusion focusing on Youth, Women and People with Disabilities.
The event which brought together 28 representatives from the Funded SMEs and Cooperatives was preceded by the study visit at Masaka Creamery Factory where 70% employees are deaf.
The Masaka Creamery factory was established in 2015 and it produces high quality Diary products for Rwanda and obviously in the region.
The daily production activities are done by deaf community made of young girls and boys.
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This website has earlier reported that the investments made by Masaka Creamery with USAID support have boosted the company’s annual domestic sales by 200 percent,supported the development of eight new products (fresh cream, sour cream,butter, ghee, mascarpone, fruit yogurt, thick yogurt, Ikivuguto), and contributed to local economic development by enabling an increase of income by20 percent for 2,000 milk farmers in the Eastern and Northern Provinces.
The Managing Director of Masaka Creamery Ltd which is located in Gasabo District John Porter said that “Employing disabled community has helped the company to make prodigious profits due to the high spirit and commitment of his employees.”
“Their performance is fantastic, they are much focused, they are smiley, they really care about the work they do….they are extremely high performers and this company has benefited greatly from them” He confirmed.
The company 70% employees are death and half of the Management Team is deaf too.
While encouraging the visiting Team to include the disabled community as well as social inclusion in their businesses, Mr Porter revealed that the company has “32 employees among them 80% are youth employees, 40% women and 20 of the total employees are deaf,”
“The company is focusing on working with the disabled.” Mr. Porter added.
Speaking at the event Mrs. Joselyne who is serving as the Supervisor and Welfare Officer at the Factory narrated how she used to live a miserable life before getting employed at Masaka Creamery.
Joselyne using the sign language said that “We used to feel the stigma of our disability. We had no means to make a living. But after getting employment we have been able to improve our living conditions and we are well paid here.”
“Today I am able to pay school fees for my sisters and I am planning to set up a supermarket in the future.” Joselyn added.
Visitors were touched by the story of the disabled community and throughout their speeches they were eager to learn how Mr. Porter managed to successfully work with the disabled so that they can emulate.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting team, Patrick said ‘‘we are grateful to Masaka Creamery for having particularly employed the youth regardless of their disability (hearing)status. This is a perfect example of social inclusion and we hope that our businesses will draw into your footprints”.
Melanie Bittle the PSDAG Chief of Party used the opportunity to call up on all SMEs and cooperatives that benefit from the USAID support to integrate Gender and Social Inclusion in their business as part of promoting and empowering youth, women and disabled community.
“Everyone has different disability, so you have to be very cognizant of those persons.
“Despite their disabilities these people have particular talents and people should see what types of jobs they should do.
“We have one SME who employs 70% of their staff are deaf and other way to the management level they have learn sign language so that they can communicate with their staff.
“We have others that are blinds and others are working in the fields, others with different types of disabilities are also working on other types of work.
“Really we don’t need an extra budget to integrate GSI in what we do, our partners must use what they have to mainstream the Gender and Social Inclusion in their businesses. “ Malanie said.
