We believe housing is a human right. Everyone deserves refuge from the elements and to raise their children in a safe and sanitary environment. It is our vision that once the fundamental need for shelter has been met, the families who dwell in these homes will have the opportunity to start building their own independent lives.
Inshuti of Rwanda is dedicated to providing shelter to genocide survivors, single mothers and hard-working father families who are living in deplorable conditions due to a lack of resources. Our families typically have three or more school-age children. By focusing on younger families, our houses will have a longer-lasting impact by improving their lives early on.
Thanks to the generous contributions of our donors, we have raised over $177,000 in six years of operation. This has enabled our team to build 59 standard Inshuti houses and two multi-family homes, providing a foundation for the future to 65 families. To date, 95% of Inshuti's funding goes directly to our building projects with little allocated for administration costs.
Our Inshuti mason, Hassan, was building a house for his family brick by brick with the small amount of money he earned.
“Up to now, I never would believe that I could own a real house” Hassan, after his first nights sleep in his new home.
Hassan is still working hard to improve his family’s life. He recently installed new, metal-framed, glass windows and doors .
Rosa’s 1st Trip to Rwanda
April 2011
Rosa travels to Rwanda for the first time with the University of Florida, Arts in Medicine Program. She meets Felix, the program translator and falls in love with Rwanda. She sees a need, but doesn’t yet know how to help.
Rosa Returns
November 2012
Honoring her initial impulse in 2011, Rosa returns to Rwanda and volunteers for Rwanda Sustainable Families, a micro-loan organization. During this trip she and Felix conduct home visits to loan recipients.
Solome & Rosa Meet
November 2012
During a home visit Rosa meets Solome, and her family, who were living in a corrugated metal structure with a tarp roof. Walking home, Felix turns to Rosa and says, “You should come back next year and build them a house.”
A House for Solome
November 2012
Even before leaving Rwanda, Rosa decides she wants to build a house for Solome.
We Build the 1st House
March 2014
Rosa raises $4,000 and returns to facilitate the construction of Solome’s house. Felix & Rosa begin learning how to build houses in Rwanda.
Inshuti is Unofficially Created
May 2014
When Rosa returns home she raises $9,500 in the hopes of building more houses. This is when Inshuti of Rwanda was unofficially created.
Four New Houses
January 2015
Rosa and Felix assist in the construction of 4 homes and developed the standard Inshuti house model. They also visited Solome, finding she made her house into a home. Her children were clean, in school, happy and healthy.
Inshuti Becomes a Non-Profit
September 2015
Rosa decides that Inshuti needs to become official to help more families. A board of directors is created and 501(c)3 nonprofit paperwork is filed.
The 2016 Build
February 2016
With $15,000 raised, Rosa and Felix oversee the construction of 6 new homes. One year later, the 2015 families are able to focus on their own futures.
New Beds for New Homes
March 2016
Exceeding our fundraising goal allowed us to provide beds, mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets for all the 2015 and 2016 families.
2017 Brainstorming
March 2016
Rosa and Felix, alongside local Rwandan officials, make plans for 2017 with the goal to raise $28,000 for the construction of 10 new houses.
Inshuti Website Launch
October 2016
For several months Scott and Rosa work at creating a website for Inshuti.
10 New Homes
January 2017
What a successful year! Felix, Hussein and Rosa oversee the construction of 10 new homes for Inshuti families.
Cookware For Families
February 2017
In 2017, Inshuti started supplying cookware to families. Previously, women were cooking in pots with holes in them or borrowing from neighbors.
Rwandan Government Collaboration
February 2017
Inshuti and the local Rwandan government are teaming up to build two Umuryango Family Houses, housing eight families in total.
The 2020 Build
February 2020
In 2020, we raised $36,000 which allowed us to build 11 standard Inshuti homes and two Umuryango Family homes. A total of 19 families were housed this year.
Covid-19 Food Aid
May 2020
As the world faced the Covid-19 pandemic, our Inshuti families suffered under a strict lockdown. We raised $6,000 for emergency food aid to feed over 60 families for several months during Covid.
Officially An NGO In Rwanda
November 2020
Inshuti of Rwanda’s registration with the Rwanda Government Board (RGB) was approved and becomes an NGO in Rwanda.
Our Most Successful Year Yet
February 2021
Committed to helping more people with each build, in 2021 we constructed 15 new houses and provided over 150 local jobs with liveable wages to our growing Inshuti community.
55 Families Housed
April 2021
Inshuti of Rwanda has housed 55 families in six building seasons!! Stay tuned for more…