2004 saw the first true strides towards self-sufficiency after Mabawa;s initial efforts to recreate a nucleus of community and provide for the population;s basic needs. Housing, education and safe drinking water were the initial focus.

SCHOOLS
Everything began with the primary school.  Under the guidance of professional masons and a contractor, villagers participated in the renovation of the primary school all while receiving stipends. The construction was an important milestone for Mabawa: it created a new found purpose and outlook, and ownership in the community;s future.  A village council was founded to further involve the village in the decisions important to its future. 
Subsequently a new secondary school building with 4 classrooms, teacher;s office, adjacent kitchen and refectory facilities were built as were a dormitory and sanitation amenities for 94 interns all ready for the start of the 2006 academic year.  By early 2007, 2 dormitories will have been built. In fact many older children from the outlying area attend school at Nyamyumba. As some often live more than 15 kilometers away, building the infrastructure to accommodate them is of vital importance to guarantee the best chance of success in their education and future.
The refectory currently offers a daily meal to the primary school;s 340 children and 3 daily meals to the secondary school;s 94 interns.  5 paid cooks attend to the kitchen.  The intention is to also expand the meal program as the student body and intern population grows. 

WATERWORKS 
Potable water was another important step for the community;s welfare.  An aqueduct was built to supply the village from a source to meet its basic drinking water needs.  Beforehand, water often polluted, had to be carried in from a distance by the villagers.  5 fountains now exist within Nyamyumba to meet daily household requirements.  In early 2007, with the help of the University of Lugano;s geology and engineering departments, survey and drilling operations begin to establish sustainable wells.  Developing the community;s own water resources contributes to the further development and management of Nyamyumba;s agricultural and livestock programs.  Indirectly it also helps Mabawa in promoting community water management and hygiene techniques especially ecological toilets that favor international waters protection (Nil) and soil conservation.

AGRICULTURE
• The creation of ;radical terraces is a pillar of the Nyamyumba project and its stride towards self-reliance and a sustainable livelihood. The conservation of scarce land resources and sound water management are essential to the long-term viability of agriculture in Nyamyumba.  High population density, steep slopes, and abundant rainfall or drought in this highland portion of Rwanda, makes the task of erosion control and consistent harvests uncommonly difficult for the peasant farmer. The specific use to which land is put, e.g., cultivation, fallow, pasture, woodlots, and, if it is cultivated, the particular combination of crops grown, are all vital elements of a sustainable agricultural program that promotes conservation of natural resources.
With the technical guidance and expertise of the Rwandan University agronomy department, the community built for Phase 1, the first 29 acres of terraces.  The villagers were paid for their work.  Wheat and potatoes are cultivated on small parcels (1000 sq. m) by all the villagers who are responsible for the tilling and harvesting of the crops.  Some parcels are reserved by Mabawa for forage seeds that support Nyamyumba;s livestock and the development of alternative sustainable biological crops e.g. fruit trees, vegetables, alternative tubers, etc.

LIVESTOCK
• Mabawa;s efforts are currently focused on livestock that fit a sustainable agricultural model and responds to a broad spectrum of the local population;s needs. Through intensification of improved husbandry practices that include improvement of the stock with breeding of superior herds for example (such as Jersey) puts less demand on land usage while obtaining greater food yields. The push towards self-reliance and economic independence is also furthered in this area by micro-credit projects in the form a ;cow bank and a ;chicken bank .  Cows and chicken are a mainstay of Rwandan farming along with goat, pigs, rabbits and sheep.  Cows in particular occupy an important and longstanding cultural and social place in Rwanda as they represent not only wealth and prosperity to its owner but are also a symbol of the return to normalcy after the 1994 Genocide.  
Both banks work on the same principle: livestock or poultry (hen and rooster) is given to a village member or family with the responsibility of the animal;s care.  The cattle provide exclusively for milk and fertilizer whilst poultry provides essentially eggs for a supplemented protein diet.  The consequent off-spring (Calf) or hatchlings (Chicks) are then given to another family or villager entitling the original caregiver to complete ownership of the animal and its future offspring or brood.  A current bovine population of 75 cows exists in Nyamyumba, 50 of which have been donated by Mabawa.  In recognition of the Nyamyumba project;s success, the Rwandan Agricultural Ministry has donated a bred bull (50/50 Local/Jersey) that will provide for a more resistant and sturdier local cattle population.   The ministry is providing the village with regular veterinary visits by its staff to promote and maintain animal health.  As of early 2007, 50 cows are still needed to satisfy Nyamyumba;s goal of self-reliance with regards to its livestock goals. 

As mentioned previously, the chicken bank works along the same principles.  Currently the Avian Flu has stopped continued chicken bank distribution although prior to the flu;s appearance in the area. 300 hens and roosters had been distributed to the local population by Mabawa.  The program will be resumed once clear of the epidemic danger or as an alternative is found.

THE BAKERY and CHEESE FACTORY PROJECT
• Operational since May 2006, and completely self-reliant, the bakery employs 6 persons with the village youth distributing the baked goods through out the underlying region.  Current capitalization is 300,000 FRW (530 USD) and enables employee salaries and purchase of ingredients for baking.  Mabawa is currently underwriting the bakerys expansion made necessary by the increased demand for the goods.

Work will begin in 2007 to build a cheese factory that will process milk from 40 dairy cows and goats.  The Cheese will be sold in the local market.  Land to build the factory was made available by the local authority and foundation work has begun.

HOUSING
• Virtually every house in the community (114 homes) needs renovation or outright reconstruction.  The homes are often dilapidated having been built in 1995 shortly after the 1994 Genocide by inexperienced labor because of the shortage of available construction expertise.
Mabawa has built 10 temporary housing units that are home to those families whose residence is being entirely rebuilt.  They will also serve as temporary housing for outside construction workers hired, when necessary, because of their construction expertise.  Currently 23 homes are being refurbished or rebuilt.
Each new house is comprised of a main living area, 3 bedrooms, a kitchen and exterior sanitation (outhouse).  Each home is equipped with basic living and bedroom furniture (2 benches, clothes closet, bed frames and mattresses) kitchen and cooking utensils and bedding (sheets and blankets).

INFIRMARY

• Entirely refurbished by Mabawa and restocked with necessary medical supplies, the infirmary serves a district population of 8,000.  Mabawa also underwrites the monthly visit of a pediatrician who also provides medical care for the adult population.

ONGOING GENERAL WELFARE PROJECTS
• Mabawa currently supports 5 particularly needy families (elderly, widows with numerous or sick children) who receive additional assistance and monthly rations of protein flour equivalent to 15 USD per family/month.

• 24 families suffering economic hardship receive daily ration tickets for bread equivalent to 11 USD per family/month

• Children attending school receive a once weekly bread loaf.
•  50 kg of bean seed have been distributed to large families to plant farm and harvest enabling them to meet their needs.

• 250 blankets have been currently distributed to the community. Only 1/3 of the total blanket needs have been met as often people sleep upwards of 3 to 1 blanket.  Before this handout the population had no blankets.  (Nyamyumba  is at an altitude of  1300m and fall/winter are cold).
• Donated clothing (of good quality if not new) arriving from Switzerland or purchased at local markets are distributed regularly to the local population.