RDIS and YAK GBKP joined together to discuss about the process of establishing a credit union as an entry point to empower people in the community especially in the rural areas. The Credit Union with and for the members in the five Dioceses of the Anglican Church in Rwanda, namely: BUTARE, CYANGUGU, KIGEME, NYARUGURU and SHYOGWE. The overall goal for the partnership is to empower members of Communities in Rwanda and in Indonesia become independent and improve on their self-sustainable for Spiritual, Social and Economic welfare.
During the meeting of the BoD of RDIS organization as well as the Retreat of the Bishops, the Rt Rev Dr. KALIMBA Jered who is the Bishop of Shyogwe Diocese at the same time, the Legal Representative of RDIS and Chairperson of the BoD draw the attention of all members to never stagnate, rather, relocate their thoughts, way of doing things such that the organization “RDIS” and families of the participant remain relevant impactful and competent in the current and future contexts.
He underlines the importance of unity basing on a biblical passage from Genesis 11: 1-9 “The tower of babel” - Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in…
He encourages the participants of the two meetings to remain faithful, walk and work with God’s guidance for the organization to step ahead. He said “the celebration of what we have achieved should never take much of time, rather, we need to move forward and make greater achievements.
We should never aim to be famous, rather, ensure that what we achieve is by God’s grace. HE thanked God for Jesus who has brought back what was lost “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” Act 2:4
On Pentecost day, people who were not able to understand each other re-experienced what was lost at the Tower of babel “both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Act 2:11 &
He thanks God for the Unity prevailing within the five Bishops standing for member Dioceses of RDIS organization and request every participant to make it prosperous
The two institutions entered into collaboration agreement in 2019. The Directors of the Two Institutions met during the International Diaconic Management Master Program, initiated by United Evangelical Mission. The partnership extended to Two Churches “Anglican Church of Rwanda –SHYOGWE Diocese and KARO BATAK PROTESTANT CHURCH (GBKP) from Indonesia-North Sumatera. The partnership between the two Churches and institutions aims to:
Streamline the institution’s opportunities by sharing best practices and learning from each other . Help our institutions and Churches to compete more effectively by responding to customers’ needs by introducing new technologies and innovations.
To this end, Rev Yusuf Tarigan Executive Director of YAK GBKP with his colleague Mr. Leader Tarigan visited RDIS with a specific purpose of sharing experiences throughout the process of establishment of Credit Union in Indonesia North Sumatera YAK GBKP context. Strategically, to raise awareness of RDIS decision making bodies.
- Meetings with the Senior staff of RDIS organization, 28th November 2022
- Meeting the Board of Directors of RDIS organization, 30th November 2022
- Meeting the Bishops of the Anglican Church Butare, Cyangugu, Kigeme, Nyaruguru and Shyogwe together with the Executive Director of RDIS organisation, 01st December 2022
Furthermore, the two Executive Directors (Rev Yusuf Tarigan and Pastor NTARINDWA Viateur, both members of International Community of Diaconic Management (ICDM) shared experiences in Leadership and Management styles in their respective institutions as to learn more from each other and enhance some areas of improvement.
The experience shared by Rev Yusuf Tarigan to different decision making bodies of RDIS was structured as follow:
- Self-introduction, family status, formal and information education as well as experience
- Explanation about the beginning and importance of economic movement based on community, biblical texts and social analysis
- History of Credit Union (CU): Credit Union Movement, initial idea of a credit union, principles and values
- CU as an alternative of Economic Movements, reasons for choosing credit union; benefit for urban and rural poor communities and the five pillars of CU
- Establishing and Developing a Credit Union: Organization, administration, bookkeeping and development technology that helps credit union grow innovatively
- Credit Union Movements and the Sustainability services of YAK GBKP: Brief explanation about progress made by Credit Union, its financial contribution in the budget of YAK GBKP
- Obstacles’ and Solutions
Highlights of the discussions:
Importance of a Credit Union
Yusuf Tarigan highlights these specific reasons for founding a Credit Union:
- Fight from being fooled and impoverished
- Overcoming Economic difficulties
- Breaking free from the capitalist bank system, which only interested is in the highest amount of profit
- Improving the socio – economic welfare of members
- Shared capital and lending in rotations
- Being the owner of their own financial institution
Pillars of a Credit Union
Credit Union starts from Education, grow through Education, controlled through Education, and, it depends of Education (informal and formal).
Self-Subsistent: the CU originates from the members, managed by the members and for the members
Solidarity: All members of CU must put forward values; togetherness with MOTTO: you are in need; I help; I am in need you help
Innovation: The innovation is needed as the street to sustainable progress to more fulfil demands of the times
Reaction and feedback from the meetings with the Senior staff of RDIS organization; meeting of the Board of Directors of RDIS ; as well as the Bishops’ retreat of the Anglican Church of Rwanda Dioceses: Butare, Cyangugu, Kigeme, Nyaruguru and Shyogwe as founders and members of RDIS orgabisation together with the Executive Director of RDIS which were consecutivelly held at Kavumu village, Gitarama Cell, Nyamabuye Sector in the District of Muhanga in the office of RDIS organisation:
- We are able to start and run a credit union with and for the members of saving groups within our five Dioceses
- We committed ourselves to continue the process, putting in place drafts of all required leadership and management tools; mobilization and sensitization tools; study tour to the most nearest successful SACCOS and financial institution such that we start by the end of 2023
- We committed to seek for approval by either National Bank of Rwanda or Rwanda Cooperative Agency as to get prepared to step to the mobilization and sensitization of members of saving groups
- We acknowledge, appreciate commit to continue Close collaboration with YAK GBKP to better get prepared for starting either a SACCOS in the context of Rwanda (similar to CU in Indonesia Context) or a financial institution. Further studies to better know what is workable, realistic and affordable by members of saving groups, Five Dioceses: BUTARE, CYANGUGU, KIGEME, NYARUGURU and SHYOGWE as well as RDIS in Rwandan Context are to be made from January 2023
By Hendrik Ziemann
Pastor NTARINDWA Viateur
