The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, will today hand over two hostels "Impinganzima” built by Unity Club (UC) to accommodate 16 incike, who are elderly and vulnerable widows who lost their children during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Mrs Kagame, who doubles as the Chairperson of Unity Club, will also lay a foundation stone for a future hostel, which will house 100 incike.

Organised in partnership with AVEGA Agahozo, the Association of Genocide Widows, this event will take place in Mukura Sector, Huye District.

Formed in 1996, Unity Club is an organisation that brings together former and current government officials, and their spouses, to promote social cohesion and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

Unity Club’s Vision, from the onset, has been to create a forum where members, and other Rwandans, are inspired to develop proactive dialogue, productive work and network in order to foster mutual responsibility in addressing social problems hindering Rwanda’s development.

For the last 20 years, Unity Club has steadily progressed towards fulfilling its mission, while becoming torchbearers ‘Intwararumuri’ to all Rwandans, promoting gender parity, advocating for the socio‐economic wellbeing of disadvantaged groups in general, with particular emphasis on orphans and widows.

A statement from the Unity Club, seen by the Sunday Times, underscores a numbers of milestones that the Club has managed to achieve, as it continues to seek possible footprints to become "a catalyst of sustainable solutions” to key issues facing Rwandans, for the last 20 years of existence.

"Unity Club has achieved a lot through advocacy, fund mobilization and partnership coordination. ”

The statement adds that, UC has mobilized support and built 20 houses for orphans who grew up in Noel Orphanage and Nyundo orphanage in Rubavu District; advocated for the construction of 90 houses for genocide survivors in Nyamagabe District and mobilized to build 5 houses "Impinganzima” similar to the ones handed over today.

The 95 hostels and homes for elderly widow members of AVEGA, are spread in Kamonyi, Rulindo, Kayonza and Huye districts.

The milestones of the UC, in the last 20 years, according to UC, are mainly those that "contribute to the promotion of unity among Rwandans and social development in general.

"We have brought together former, current cabinet members and their spouses to build a better Rwanda through the power of sharing and interaction; and continually foster collaboration and create a platform for open dialogue and unity among members,” UC says.

After 20 years of existence, we have gained enough momentum. From simple socialization among founding members, to creating a forum for leaders to discuss issues threatening our unity, and now the Ndi Umunyarwanda spirit that was embraced by communities, sounds outstanding. But we are aware that there is a lot to accomplish in order to sustain the achievements, the Club’s Spokesperson office reiterates.

The club continues to be "hope” for disadvantaged groups in general with particular focus on orphans, through advocacy for their socio-economic wellbeing.

Recently, Unity Club expanded its advocacy to other pathways, by focusing on building stronger mechanisms to improve the economic status of the Rwandan woman—to consolidate on the social and political milestone achieved towards women empowerment.

The club has decided to partner with ‘New Faces New Voices’ in a campaign to mobilize women country-wide for saving and investments.

"We started by empowering ourselves as Unity Club members through trainings such as in personal financial management, investments and entrepreneurship. We also made pledges into the women investment fund that New Faces New Voices is mobilizing. 

Our next step will be to join hands with other women leaders who will play a role in the campaign to inspire, motivate and mobilize women across the country. 

We must lead by example.”, the statement further reads.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw