Word Made Flesh Rwanda is called to love and serve Jesus alongside the most vulnerable in order to sustain abundant life for women and their families in the urban slums of Kigali, Rwanda.
Mission Statement
Word Made Flesh Rwanda fosters wellbeing and holistic transformation in women and children living in vulnerable communities through friendship, discipleship, and economic empowerment opportunities.
Learn about our staff & support financially.
Read the latest news and notes from the field.
Handcrafted products that offer freedom, dignity, and abundant life for women in Rwanda.
Rwanda has been slowly rebuilding since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, but many people in this beautiful country still live in poverty. Since 2015, Word Made Flesh Rwanda has been serving women who have been experiencing the brokenness and vulnerability that comes with living in poverty in one of Kigali’s poorest neighborhoods. WMFR seeks to restore hope while equipping women with the tools and resources they need to thrive.
WMFR began as a ministry in Kangondo slum in Kigali city, which housed thousands of residents. However, due to its susceptibility to disasters and health hazards, the slum was demolished and it was necessary for residents to relocate. For WMFR, this posed a challenge as many of those they served were tenants who had to find similar neighborhoods. Consequently, they shifted their ministry to Kinyinya, where most Kangondo residents resettled. They maintained existing relationships and forged new ones. Since September 2022, WMFR has been serving in Kinyinya, with a second cohort of over 40 women participating in weekly Bible study and savings programs, along with over 50 children attending monthly Umucyo Bible Study Club sessions. The women enrolled include teen mothers, single mothers, survivors of domestic violence who are mainly in street vending / or casual work because this category of people are the ones experiencing poverty in the slums of Kigali, Rwanda. Also, in this community, we are befriending families or women who are muslims or have muslim or no religious backgrounds so that we can share the Gospel.
Woman's Programs
Friendship and Discipleship Program:
We believe that holistic poverty requires a holistic response. In addition to the programs that attempt to relieve the financial struggle many women face, we also try to respond to their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. This includes Group Weekly Bible Studies and Prayer gatherings.
Economic Empowerment Groups:
Women in Binunga often struggle to find stable sources of income, making planning for the future extremely difficult. WMFR offers economic empowerment groups to women where they can be part of a savings group, giving them access to a savings account and loan programs. These women also are encouraged by Financial Literacy education, Entrepreneurship Classes, and business mentorship.
Social Work
This encompasses individual and group offerings of counseling services, home visits, facilitating personalized support and intervention where needed most and maintaining readiness for timely emergency responses to family crises. We offer community health trainings to promote preventive care and empower participants with essential health knowledge. We foster a sense of belonging through life sharing and social activities, including community celebrations.
We frequently visit women in their homes as a way to develop deeper relationships and have a better understanding of their home and family life. We also facilitate trainings and discussions on different commonly-faced health issues in our community, and accompany women through pregnancy to ensure they have access to the healthcare and nutrition that they need.
Kundwa Collective:
Kundwa Collective is a social enterprise that offers stable and dignified employment to artisans through jewelry and craft-making. Kundwa means “beloved” in Kinyarwanda. You can shop our products at our website (kundwa.org).
Children's Programs
Friendship and Discipleship Program:
WMF Rwanda offers a Umucyo Club, our children’s Bible study. This continues to offer the children in our community opportunities for discipleship, friendship, and FUN!
Lifeskill training and Mentorship
Families and youth are supported through regular group and one on one mentorships to check in on their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Additionally, we offer trainings such as nutritional programs, skill workshops, and mentorship to support their personal development.
Educational Support
WMF Rwanda supports youth with potential in Kigali by preventating drop out and helping education remain accessible to families by supporting school fees and class materials. Our programs are offered for students through primary and secondary school with additional support for further education after graduation.
Rwanda Blog
Greetings from Kigali!
I can hardly believe that I am actually here. The few weeks have been such a strange transition back to life in Kigali. A lot of things looks and feel exactly the same as when I was here in 2013, but my life this time around seems so much different. I’m getting used to living in…
Terrifying, in a good way
I’m leaving Portland today. I have been talking about and planning for Rwanda for over a year now, so to finally be at the point of leaving is relieving, exciting, and—to be completely honest—slightly terrifying. Terrifying, though, in a good way. Terrifying because over the last year of just planning for Rwanda, God has changed me in more ways than…
An Evening For Rwanda
For the last few months I have been asking God to provide community. I am going to Rwanda in November alone and, as excited as I am about following Jesus to a place that I already know and love, being alone in this scares me. My hope for these prayers was that God would bring along some crazy awesome…