Empowering Families in Rwanda and Burundi: Supporting Mothers, families and Babies Towards Self-Sustainability as well as a Faithful Walk with Jesus.

The journey from hospital to home is a critical moment for families with premature babies in Rwanda. All of Early Lift's Christmas 2025 Outreach babies and their mothers have recently been discharged from the hospital and returned home, marking a hopeful new chapter. Yet, the rainy season brings challenges, especially for families relying on agriculture and livestock. The first of the 5 Rwandan Outreach families now has a shelter for a dairy cow; the cow was purchased and delivered this past weekend as a source of income for their family. This initiative is part of a broader outreach effort that provides capital to help families start self-sustaining businesses.

Currently, $1300 is needed monthly to continue this outreach, helping each family every few days, and once a month to provide the capital so the next family of the eight 2025 Outreach families can begin their journey toward financial independence. This post explores how these efforts are transforming lives and what is needed to sustain the momentum.

The family's new dairy cow is under the shelter built for her.

The Importance of Supporting Premature Babies and Their Mothers

Premature babies require special care and attention, which often continues long after they leave the hospital. In Rwanda, many families face economic hardships that make it difficult to provide the necessary care. Supporting mothers during this time is crucial because their well-being directly affects the baby's health and development.

Mothers of premature babies often struggle to balance medical care, household responsibilities, and income generation. Without support, these families risk falling into deeper poverty, which can affect the baby's growth and survival. Early Lift's initiative to provide not only medical follow-up but also economic support helps break this cycle.

Building a Shelter for Dairy Cows: A Practical Step Toward Income

One of the most effective ways to support families is by helping them generate steady income. For one family with a premature baby, a shelter for a dairy cow was built. This shelter protects the cow during the rainy season, ensuring its health and productivity.

Dairy cows provide multiple benefits:

• Milk production for family consumption and sale

• Manure for fertilizing crops

• Potential for breeding to increase herd size and income

  
  

By purchasing the cow, the family gains a valuable asset that can generate income and improve nutrition. This practical step helps the family become more self-sufficient and better able to care for their premature baby.

The grateful family with their new dairy cow under shelter.

Expanding Support to Burundi: Preparing the Next Family

The outreach program is not limited to Rwanda. Plans are underway to support one of the three Christmas 2025 Outreach mothers in Burundi to start her own self-sustaining business. This expansion reflects the program's commitment to helping families across borders who face similar challenges.

The next capital outlay will provide the necessary funds for this mother to begin her business, which could include livestock, small-scale farming, or other income-generating activities. This approach ensures that support is tailored to each family's needs and local opportunities.

How the Outreach Program Works

The outreach program visits each family every few days to provide:

• A Check of the medical progress of each prematurely born baby.

• Emotional, parental skills, and financial support.

• Opportunities for mothers and family members to receive prayer and biblical discipleship.

• Capital for starting or expanding small businesses

  
  

This frequent contact helps identify and address challenges early, ensuring families continue to move forward. The program also builds trust and strengthens community ties.

To maintain this level of support, $1300 is needed monthly. These funds cover:

• Transportation and staff costs for outreach visits

• Purchase of assets like dairy cows or farming tools

• Training and mentoring for mothers starting businesses

• Bibles and other materials.

  
  

Why Your Support Matters

Every donation helps keep this vital program running. By contributing, donors enable:

• Continued medical, emotional, spiritual, and social support for vulnerable families

• Economic empowerment through asset ownership and business development

• Expansion of the program to new families and regions

  
  

Small contributions add up to significant change. For example, buying one dairy cow can provide a family with a steady income for years. Supporting the next mother in Burundi or Rwanda means another family moves closer to financial independence.

Practical Ways to Help

If you want to support this initiative, consider:

• Monthly donations to cover ongoing outreach costs

• One-time gifts to fund specific assets like livestock or equipment

• Sharing information about the program to raise awareness

  
  

Transparency and accountability are priorities. Donors receive updates on how funds are used and the impact on families' lives.

Looking Ahead: Building Sustainable Communities

The goal is to create a network of families who can support themselves and each other. By focusing on health, income, building strong faith walks with Jesus Christ, and community, the program fosters resilience against challenges such as the rainy season, ongoing challenges of raising a formerly premature baby to adulthood.

Each family becomes a model for others, inspiring hope and practical solutions. This ripple effect can transform entire communities over time.

Supporting mothers and babies in Rwanda and Burundi is more than charity—it is an investment in the future. With continued help, these families will thrive, breaking cycles of poverty and illness.

In the never ending love and power of Jesus,

Dr Eddie and Belinda Herd