CIMERWA Plc’s journey is one that started over 38 years ago with the vision to become the leading cement manufacturer in the region. As a company, CIMERWA has always believed in taking the communities it operates in along on its growth journey.
This belief saw the birth of the STRENGTHENING RWANDA agenda that is now intrinsically tied to everything the company stands for. Strengthening Rwanda transcended a mere slogan and took on a life of its own through five core pillars; Strengthening Education,
Strengthening Health, Strengthening Entrepreneurship, Strengthening Infrastructure & Strengthening Environmental Protection. These five pillars now have several community-centric initiatives under their umbrella, most of which can be
found in the Western province of the country in Rusizi, Bugarama where CIMERWA Plc’s production plant is located.
Strengthening Education
L’educateur School
CIMERWA Plc’s Nursery & Primary School – l’educateur continues to thrive, established in 2003 to cater to children of CIMERWA’s employees and the community around the plant, the school now hosts over 765 students from the region surrounding the plant. Parents pay a subsidized tuition fee at the school and children benefit from top-notch education since the school is ranked 1st on the District level.
Strengthening Health
CIMERWA clinic & Handwashing stations
Clinics and handwashing stations have been in high demand over the past two years, they have helped communities across the world join the collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. With the same in mind, CIMERWA built eleven handwashing stations in strategic high-frequency areas such as markets & bus parks. In addition to this, the CIMERWA clinic provides COVID-19 testing facilities to employees and the surrounding community. Established at the plant premises in 1984. It comprises a pharmacy, a 14-bed facility, and a laboratory manned by trained staff.
Strengthening Trade
Bugarama Market
Built by CIMERWA Plc, the Bugarama market was established to support traders in the area especially women who had no proper market in which to trade their wares. This market built on CIMERWA land currently houses over 60 traders who also benefit from free electricity and water on the premises courtesy of CIMERWA Plc.
Strengthening Capacity
Tailoring Project
The TTCM tailoring cooperative had just over 20 members in 2015 who were struggling since they had no working premises, equipment and close to no professional training. Over 5 years later, the contrast is striking, with the support of CIMERWA Plc the tailors now have a house to operate in fully equipped with water and electricity, professional sewing machines, they benefitted from a tailoring workshop that has upgraded their skills and they now manufacture the entirety of CIMERWA Plc’s overalls and plant
uniforms. The cooperative has now grown to include 42 members
Strengthening Lives
Water Treatment Plant
CIMERWA Plc’s Water Treatment Plant helps the community in Bugarama access clean water at no cost. The water treatment plant, which has a capacity of 2,60 m3 per day, supplies clean water to more than 3,500 families in the Bugarama villages through company-owned pipelines. This is a considerable contribution to sanitation and health in
the area.
Strengthening Accessibility
Bugarama road project
Every quarter, CIMERWA Plc invests in maintaining local roads connecting several sectors such as the Mashyuza and Nyakabuye sectors as well as the Muganza and Gitambi sectors. This maintenance drive has made the roads more accessible for bicycles and bikes which are used mainly for the commercial transport of passengers, not to mention cars transporting cargo and regular pedestrians.
Strengthening Sports
Espoir FC
No town is fully complete without a sports team to rally after, Espoir FC is that team for Rusizi District and It has donned the CIMERWA colors since 2015. The team finished its latest season on a high note ranking 4th in the first division of the National League.Espoir FC is a beacon of hope for sports fans and aspiring athletes in the region.
Strengthening
Sports
No town is fully complete without a sports team to rally after, Espoir FC is that team for Rusizi District and It has donned the CIMERWA colors since 2015. The team finished its latest season on a high note ranking 4th in the first division of the National League.Espoir FC is a beacon of hope for sports fans and aspiring athletes in the region.