On 11th March 2022, the Rwandan Community in China and friends of Rwanda came together at the Embassy to celebrate International Women's Day. With this year's National theme reflecting on ‘Gender Equality to address Climate Change’. The Embassy recognized three Rwandan women in China for their outstanding contribution to address climate change.

Speaking to the audience, Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, H.E James Kimonyo underscored the Government’s stance in ensuring that women continue to pay their rightful role in building our country. He also hailed women's contribution to Rwanda’s socio-economic development, saying that their contribution paid a significant role in different sectors, including governance, ICT, security, education, agriculture, environmental protection, trade, financial services, education, etc. 

Reiterating on women’s contribution, the envoy noted that Rwandan women have among others played a key role in ensuring the safety and security of Rwanda and their contribution has gone beyond our borders through peacekeeping missions. Today, Rwanda ranks top as a country with the highest number of women peacekeepers in UN missions

He urged Rwandan women in China to leverage opportunities presented by China to contribute to the country’s wellbeing to ensure the continuity of development and gender equality. 

During the event, the Rwandan Community in China (RCA – China) handed over their CanaChallenge commitment donation of lighting up 547 families to the Development Bank of Rwanda.  The Ambassador thanked all those who contributed to this noble cause. ‘We are very proud for this contribution collected from Rwandans living in China majority of whom are students, this demonstrates our full responsibility of our youth in contributing to our country’s development,’ Narcisse Mulinga, the Chairperson of RCA – China said. 

Ms. Mycline Umuhoza, a PhD student in UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, who was given an a ward for her Green Culture Foundation project said that celebrating women’s day in Rwanda and internationally builds on existing milestones in women empowerment, we are already strong.  

“Women hold solutions for a sustainable tomorrow; they impart knowledge in the society that can bring cross-generational impacts. I emphasize that climate change adaptation and mitigation for a sustainable future starts from thinking green, thinking in a more sustainable way, which will positively affect the behavior of humanity towards the environment in our communities,” she said. 

She thanked the Rwandan government, for having empowered women and given them room to be at the center of the Rwandan transformation journey towards sustainable development. 

Speaking on behalf of the Rwandan women in China, Ms. Esther Mwizerwa Muhindo, the RCA- China Gender commissioner noted that, "Women’s actions have a significant impact. Let us join our hands to find climate change solutions, strive for green economy, and strengthen our resilience to climate impacts and disasters". This day gives us as an opportunity to renew our commitment to break the bias and barriers that continue to deny women their full rights, she adds.

Rwandan women who attended the function committed to use their talents and knowledge to contribute to the country’s development goals.

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