The US Embassy has offered a grant of US$135,000 (approx.Frw74m) to twelve Rwandan community organisations, Ambassador Michael Arietti announced on Thursday.

Arietti said that US$7, 5000 (about Frw41m) of the grant will be given to associations and community-based groups under the auspices of the U.S Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund. The remaining US$60,000 (about Frw33m) goes to the Democracy and Human Rights Fund.

"These grants may not seem like a lot of money but they can make a world of difference for the hundreds of families who will benefit from them,” Arietti said during a handover ceremony at the American Club in Kiyovu.

Some of the organisations under sponsorship of the U.S Ambassador’s Special Self-help Fund include Gira Isuku Association, to help them make soap.

Others are beneficiaries are Pour la Valorisation Artisenale des Papyrus Association – which will buy new equipment to make papyrus ceiling panels – and Animateur pastoraux Association, that plans to purchase land and equipment to farm soyabeans and make soy milk.

"Every project that receives the fund requires a contribution from the community, whether it is a local authority granting land to build a workshop or association members providing materials and labour,” Arietti said.

Under Democracy and Human Rights Fund, short films about child-labour in Rwanda will made and the promotion of child-labour laws.

The fund will also be used to bring together students and lecturers to debate, discuss and promote human rights. Books highlighting children’s rights, unity and reconciliation, health education and environment will be published and distributed with the help of the fund.

"Funds will also be used to show films around Rwanda on mobile cinema screen,” Arietti added.

The one-year programme to each beneficiary has been in Rwanda for over ten years. It started in Togo forty years ago.
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