The Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali has, on June 30, donated Rwf 3.5 million to GAERG, the Alumni of Genocide Survivors’ Students Association, for their project named Nyunganira that aims to support Genocide widows around the country.

The event took place in the Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District, where the staff of the complex gathered with different members of the association of Genocide widows, Avega-Agahozo, who lives in the sector.

According to Rob Kucera, General Manager of the complex, the Radisson Hotel Group’s philosophy is a responsible business.

He said that as much as they grow their business within a city, they make sure they also support the community and grow it.

That’s why through their management team, they decided to support the Genocide widows as 100 days of remembrance of the Genocide against the Tutsi are still ongoing, a moment he said brings a perfect opportunity for them to be their family and help them move forward.

"Our hospitality sector has been affected by COVID-19,but we believe that Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre will recover its contribution to the community as business resumes” he said.

He noted that it’s significant, particularly hearing testimonies from Genocide widows, for it comes more naturally.

"You read much information about Genocide, you go to Genocide memorial or hear other people speak about it, but it is natural when somebody is telling a testimony and then touches everybody from that point of view because that’s what they went through. They are the heroes for surviving and passing through, and the government has been so progressive in supporting them since 1994. We are just going to help with our part,” he said.

Fidele Nsengiyaremye, Executive Director of GAERG, thanked the complex for the support, adding that it is for Genocide widows in a group named Icyizere in the Kinyinya Sector that usually gathers for group therapy, battling the effects of Genocide, primarily mental health-related.

He said that as they had discussions, they found out that they were not enough and decided to start Nyunganira Project to raise funds to help Genocide widows, who are now old, have chicken farms so that they can get occupation, have a responsibility, and earn money to help them get some basic needs.

He said that apart from that, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center has become a family and will continue to support its activities.

The Genocide widows in Kinyinya Sector are expected to get the chickens by December 2022.

Epiphanie Mukankubito, President of the association of Genocide widows, Avega-Agahozo in Kinyinya Sector, which is composed of 54 members, said the chickens would help them get some money and basic needs and eat eggs that contain nutrients their bodies need.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center is preparing to welcome the widows at the complex for a tour and a memorable meal to be shared.