KIGALI - Barely a month after its launch early April, the One Dollar Campaign is gaining momentum as more in the public, including commercial organizations such as banks commit to the campaign.

Diaspora head Gustave Karara revealed this development Wednesday, adding that there has been much progress since the fundraising campaign started.

The campaign being championed by the Rwanda Diaspora Global Network (RDGN), aims at mobilizing funds from both within and outside the country to help provide accommodation to children orphaned by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"First is FINA Bank. We presented the project to them and they accepted, promising that every employee will donate five dollars and, FINA Bank itself promised to make a contribution after we open an account with them,” Karara said.

"There is also Access Bank (former Bancor). They have given us six hundred thousand Rwandan francs.” According to Karara, the Central Bank has donated Rwf1m,  while Banque de Kigali (BK) has promised to contribute too.

"Banque Populaire have agreed that they will help campaign for the project and will do many things including putting One Dollar Campaign banners on all their branches.”

A week ago, the campaign had registered cash and pledges of over Rwf 50 million.

Karara pointed out that apart from the Banking institutions; others as well are stepping up efforts to assist.

Ugandan singer Jose Chameleone is planning a joint concert with local musicians from which 10 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the campaign.

"A company called Flash Media Productions has produced a movie, Rya Joro ry’ I Nyange (One Night at Nyange) and, proceeds from its premiering will go to the campaign,” Karara said, noting that the churches too were involved.

"Aline (Gahongayire) and The Sisters – Tonzi and others in their gospel group, have started a singing movement to fundraise for the campaign,” he said.

Karara also revealed that Kigali City (KCC) is involved, right from the Umudugudu – Village, level.

KCC Communications Director, Bruno Rangira confirmed this.
"The initiatives are at an advanced stage, within youth associations like Atraco, Assetamorwa, and others. What they are doing now is mobilization and creating public awareness so as to raise money,” Rangira said.

He noted that on May 25, Atraco and Assetamorwa – associations of commuter taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi operators respectively, along with other unions, will give their donations to the Diaspora.

Such youth associations have over 18,000 members, according to KKC.

"In districts, they are also organizing in villages and sectors to mobilize. Nyarugenge district, for one, will start campaign on the fifteenth next month,” Rangira said.

The fundraising project was mooted during the Diaspora conference that was held in December last year and it aims at raising at least Rwf1.5bn for the period of 100 days symbolizing the time it took before the Genocide was stopped.

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