Caroline Flack visits World Jewish Relief project in Rwanda

Caroline Flack, TV Presenter and soon-to-be contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, has just returned from visiting a World Jewish Relief project in rural Rwanda.

Caroline went to Rwamagama, eastern Rwanda to see how the money raised by Sports Relief from the British public is changing lives on the ground.

The fundraising giant awarded World Jewish Relief a grant of £365,994 for its project in Rwanda, where it is providing agricultural training to improve the lives of communities devastated by the genocide twenty years ago.

World Jewish Relief is working with a local organisation to help young farmers, many of them orphaned by the massacre, to grow higher value cash crops and form cooperatives. By pooling their land together, farmers can produce a surplus of crops that can be sold at markets to help lift their families out of poverty.

Reflecting on her experience, Caroline said: “I had no idea that coming to Rwanda would leave me so inspired by the strength of the human spirit. [People here] have managed to overcome their grief and improve their livelihoods by building their own profitable businesses and creating sustainable sources of income.”

Richard Verber, Campaigns Manager for WJR said: “The impact is enormous and life-changing. One graduate of the pilot programme has earned 447,000 Rwandan Francs in just three months. That equates to nearly £400, in a country where the average income over the same period is just £101. This is enough to lift an entire family out of poverty.”

Paul Anticoni, WJR’s Chief Executive added: “Our community knows only too well the effects of genocide. This work cannot undo the past, but it can deliver a brighter future. We were delighted to host Caroline in Rwamagama to help her learn about the impact donations to Comic Relief have made.”

• Watch a short film about Caroline’s visit here: