SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE — Medical students from the National University of Rwanda (NUR) under the Medical Student’s Mental Health Association, on Sunday donated Rwf.2.5m to three associations of Genocide orphans in the district.

The money is meant to fund small income generating projects for over 200 Genocide orphans living in child headed homes of Matyazo, Tumba and Huye.

Dr Emmanuel Musoni, the coordinator of the association, said that the donation is one way of addressing the social welfare needs of the orphans.

"It is not enough to talk about mental health in our communities without addressing some of its causes. Improving the social welfare of vulnerable groups like Genocide orphans is one way of achieving this end,” said Musoni.

Members of the association together with their counterparts from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed Rwf2.5m towards the orphans’ activities.

Desire Ndahimana, who spoke on behalf of the 54 Genocide orphans living in Matyazo –a Huye town suburb, said that the money will be used to boost their already established photography studio business.

"With this kind of support, we are going to buy more equipment for the studio. We shall also procure more equipment for our public address system which we hire out at a fee,” said Ndahimana.

The Medical student’s association that started in 2006, operates in the Southern Province, with a major focus on mental health.

It carries out public campaigns on mental health during the monthly community work, in schools and through radio programmes.

Silvestre Kagabo, an official from the district, called upon the beneficiaries to put the donation to good use. He also called for transparency and team spirit in running the different projects agreed upon by the orphans.

Ends