ABOUT US
SEVOTA
SEVOTA, “Solidarité pour l’Épanouissement des Veuves et des Orphelins visant le Travail et l’Auto-promotion (Solidarity for the Development of Widows and Orphans to Promote Self – Sufficiency and Livelihoods),” is an approved organization under Rwandan law. It was founded on December 28, 1994, and authorized by Ministerial Decree No. 130/11 of September 5, 2008, published in the December 30, 2009, edition of the Official Journal. It currently has 31 active members with multi-disciplinary backgrounds.
SEVOTA aims to provide moral and organizational support to its beneficiaries-who include women survivors of violence, children born as a result of violence, and vulnerable households, including those of widows and orphans-so that they may be able to analyze their problems and find appropriate solutions, while working to build their skills in order to improve their emotional, social, health, legal, and economic living conditions and those of their community.
OUR MISSION
SEVOTA organization aims to promote activities related to peace, unity, security, rights, and sustainable development.
SEVOTA is an organization aimed at general public interest, meant to promote activities benefiting the public.
OUR OBJECTIVES
The SEVOTA organization aims to promote activities related to peace, unity, security, rights, and sustainable development.
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ACTIVITIES
Contribute to strengthening the socio economic capacities of women, men, youth, and children, the representatives of families and communities as grassroots partners in collaboration with other stakeholders within the framework of development through programs.
Training and mobilizations and awareness-raising in the context of peace, security, justice and unity, prevention and combat against violence and conflicts, leadership, sustainable development.
MORE ACTIVITIES
Provide services and support for mutual aid and solidarity groups for adults, as well as peace clubs for the development of children and young people, in improving the activities of members, their families, and communities.
Conduct and disseminate research aimed at analyzing problems and needs among grassroots partners in order to find appropriate solutions and implement them.
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BENEFICIARIES
The beneficiaries of the SEVOTA organization are women, men, youth, and children who voluntarily agree to work for peace, justice, and development.
STORY ABOUT US
RESTORING THE DIGNITY OF 1994 GENOCIDE SURVIVORS AND ORPHANS
Solidarity for the Development of Widows and Orphans to Promote Self-Sufficiency and Livelihoods, widely known as SEVOTA (from its French acronym) – was born from a promise made in the darkest days of Rwanda’s history. Its founder, Dr. Godeliève Mukasarasi, launched the organization in gratitude to God for protecting her family during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Key highlights of 30-year journey
The vision for SEVOTA came to Dr. Mukasarasi during a time of prayer in October 1994. She saw women in unimaginable pain—hungry, crying, and hopeless. She took this as a divine call to act. With a background in social work in Ngamba Sector, she organized some women and started with 26 widows in a single-room structure in Taba Sector. That number soon grew to over 100.