The Insider: National basketballers in peace and love drive

National basketball players together with the members of Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP) Monday visited various schools in Kigali. The visits were aimed at spreading and instilling in the students, the spirit of supporting unfortunate groups especially orphans. Activities geared towards this cause have been on going courtesy of PLP. This is a group of youths who devoted their meager resources and efforts to put a smile on those who lost their parents.

Saturday, March 07, 2009
Rwandau2019s Basketball Captain Hamza Ruhezamihigo (with cap) and Rob Thomson pose for a photo with Green Hills academy students.

National basketball players together with the members of Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP) Monday visited various schools in Kigali. The visits were aimed at spreading and instilling in the students, the spirit of supporting unfortunate groups especially orphans.

Activities geared towards this cause have been on going courtesy of PLP. This is a group of youths who devoted their meager resources and efforts to put a smile on those who lost their parents.

According to the president of PLP, Marc Gwamaka, the group has been waiting for an opportune moment to reach out to as many youngsters as possible.

"We are so grateful for our basketball players who have joined this cause. They are a great inspiration to our fellow youngsters. We believe this message of love and supporting our needy brothers and sisters will sink in their (youths’) hearts,” Gwamaka said.

On Monday, the basketball stars mingled freely with students after which they played a game with the school basketball teams. They also encouraged students to believe in themselves completely if they are to achieve their dreams.

Rob Thomson, advised Green Hills Academy students to always be committed and focussed on becoming the people they want to be. He told them that the sky is the limit if they work hard and believe in themselves.

He also encouraged those sports with ambitions in not to leave academics aside because those two complement each other.

"It is better to be an educated sportsman because it provides multiple choices in life,” Thomson advised.

During an interview The Sunday Times had with national basketball captain, Hamza Ruhezamihigo, he expressed enthusiasm about the cause of reaching out and mobilizing support for the disadvantaged.

"We are really privileged to be part of this. We gave out fliers during the match and when we were contacted we saw it really important that we join this campaign and I believe these students and other people out there are going to join this cause,” he said.

He also called upon all peace loving people to join hands in this campaign aimed at bringing a smile to people living with misery everyday of their lives.

"Today is a very exciting day. We played and chatted with these players who also advised us on many aspects of life. People are now encouraged to love and help others in need,” Sonia Iraguha, Green Hills Academy entertainment prefect, said.

This campaign is part of a fundraising drive to support the Kigali Memorial Centre Educational Programme. Hopefully, many more Rwandans will join such noble causes.

Ends