Editor, 

I do appreciate what the Diaspora community did for the orphans. That said however, I would suggest that since this hostel is in a very good area for investment, that it can be turned into an income generating business/hotel as a long term prospect.

The trustee can get a loan, and build more facilities in various towns from the proceeds and have (more) orphans hosted there. The income generated would then pay for the upkeep/open more income generating projects for the orphans like a farm... This will help instill values of hard work, entrepreneurship in the youth.

Otherwise; what will happen to them after school? Sometimes free things may look and feel good, but helping the youth be self-sufficient is an even bigger priority.

192 orphans! I don’t have figures but this seems a drop of what could be the thousands out there. What is being done about it as a holistic solution, instead of piece by piece (not necessarily bad, but whole of picture approach is more effective).

The rooms look spacious, seems one can get in more students to share the room. In my university days we were three in a room smaller than this and we survived and made friends.

Is there an effective social programme in place for the students, like mentoring and counseling and religious chapel/church? These are 20-year-olds sharing a building and with hormones…pregnancy could be common, drugs alcohol taking, fights, gangs …could also happen especially to these vulnerable orphans and need more care than many.

Kigali Girl

Reaction to the story, "Life inside the ‘One Dollar’ complex” (The New Times, January 7)