•Minijust donates Rwf500,000

The Director General of the Rwanda Diaspora Directorate, Robert Masozera, yesterday announced that the ‘one dollar campaign’-an initiative that aims to raise funds to support orphans of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi , will carry on even after the initially planned 100 days.

"It was planned that the campaign would last 100 days however; the taskforce has decided that people should continue to donate to this cause until the 7 blocks of houses that were planned are built.

"So far we have over Rwf500m against a set target of Rwf1.5billion. This will be used to start construction work at the site but more is needed to complete the buildings,” Masozera said.

The operation that was launched on April 4, this year aims at constructing houses for about 600 children who were orphaned by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Masozera noted that all the events of raising more funds will be done at the construction site adding that laying of the foundation stone will be done during the ceremony that will mark the end of 100 days sometime next week.

It is expected that the houses be built in Kagugu, a city suburb in Gasabo district.

Meanwhile, the staff of the Ministry of Justice donated Rwf500, 000 yesterday in support of the campaign.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said that the ministry felt the need to contribute towards this cause that will ensure that vulnerable children acquire proper housing facilities.

"Besides this contribution, we also intend to visit the orphans of Huye district in a bid to show them parental love because children need this kind of care too,” Karugarama said. 

With reference to this initiative, the officials in charge of the campaign affirm that good quality houses will be built for these children and that an efficient taskforce composed of members from various ministries in the country has already been set up.

Masozera also pointed out that the campaign which was introduced innitialy for Rwandans in the Diaspora has surprisingly attracted great attention from those within the country, he urged everyone to continue contributing generously towards the cause.

The initiative was mooted last year during the Diaspora Retreat that was held towards the end of last year, after it emerged that hundreds of children orphaned by the Genocide did not have shelter 15 years after they lost their parents.

Ends