A group of six United Nations (UN) employees of Rwandan origin, Thursday donated Rwf 4 million to the Genocide survivors of Kumunigo in Nyamirambo through their cooperative called Terimbere, to boost their goat rearing project.

"This support is going to boost our income generating activities, especially the goat rearing project that has been in the pipeline,” said Veneranda Mukamurigo, the president of the survivors’ cooperative.

The arrangements and facilitation for this donation facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINAFET) through the department in charge of the Diaspora.

"We inquired from MINAFET, through the Diaspora department, whether we could be linked to the Genocide survivors group, who connected us to IBUKA” said Wycliffe Kwikiriza, the leader of the delegation.

"We knew that there were so many Genocide survivors and since we earn a salary, we saw it prudent to part with some of it for the good of our needy people,” explained Kwikiriza.

Benoit Kaboyi , the Executive Secretary of IBUKA, thanked the delegation for its patriotism.

"I thank our brothers and sisters for the donation but most significantly for the compassionate heart they have shown us by visiting and encouraging the children. It is a signal of solidarity and love. It will add a lot to the people,” said Kaboyi.

The Kumunigo Genocide survivor’s village is inhabited 63 orphans, with the majority comprising of children raising others. Some are students, others have finished school but jobless and another segment is made up of the old.

According to Mukamurigo , the biggest challenges faced by the suvivors is access to education, water, and health care. 

To overcome some of these challenges, Kumunigo Genocide survivors have set up strategies like forming cooperatives like Terimbere and received support from various partners.

However, their president pointed out that they not only need support in monetary terms, but also parental affection, counseling and developmental ideas.  

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