The Canadian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ross Hynes, on Tuesday announced a Ca$20,000 (Rwf11.3m) contribution to the Rwanda Initiative "Getting in Gear” project at the School of Journalism and Communication of the National University of Rwanda (NUR).

According to a press statement from the High Commission, the envoy also pledged Ca$30,000 (Rwf16.8m) to support the curriculum development of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi.

The objective of the Rwanda Initiative’s "Getting in Gear” project is to facilitate the purchase of reporting equipment for the journalism school of the Huye-based University.

"This project aims to improve the quality of journalism education offered to students at the National University of Rwanda,” the statement reads in part, adding that; "Students’ ability to do practical, hands-on learning depends on their access to quality equipment with which to gather information, record interviews and capture images.”

Rwanda Initiative has previously received funding from Canada in support of its work at NUR in the development of a new generation of professional journalists.

According to the statement, the support to the Memorial Centre is a follow-up to the 2008 Canadian project entitled ‘Building Peace, Reconciliation and Unity on the Lessons of Memory – the Kigali Memorial Centre Youth, Teacher and Community Outreach Education Programme’.

"The aim of this project is to help Rwandan youth, their teachers and the wider community acquire knowledge, attitudes and values towards a future of unity, peace and tolerance,” says the statement.

"This project will also develop an innovative and robust model of genocide education based on values, critical thinking and problem solving that could be replicated in other areas, countries and regions”.

The Canadian envoy, who is based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, is currently in the country as part of the delegation of Michaëlle Jean, the Governor General of Canada, who is in the country on a State visit.
During Jean’s trip, she is expected to take part in an Education Session at the Memorial Centre and will also visit NUR.

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