HUYE – The Medical Students Mental Health Association (MMHA), an association of medical students at the National University of Rwanda, has donated Rwf3 million to three Genocide orphans’ associations in Huye district to boost their development initiatives.

The associations; ‘Humura’ based in Tumba sector, ‘Tugire Ubutwari bwo Kubaho’ in Huye sector and ‘Club Urumuri’ in Ngoma sector, received Rwf 1 million  each. They are involved in different activities which include public secretarial services, pig breeding and audiovisual production.

Last year, Rwf2.5million donation was offered to the same associations in order to help them launch their projects.

Speaking during the event last Sunday, Elysée Hategekimana, the coordinator of the Project for Capacity Building and Sustainability of Rwandan Orphans (PCSO-Miss Africa), which is under the medical students association, reiterated the need to support Genocide orphans.

"Some Genocide orphans are known to be leading challenging lifestyles, they live on their own and struggle for themselves though many are still young, and many of them are being traumatized due to poverty. Assisting them in their development initiatives can help reduce this trauma,” Hategekimana said.

The beneficiaries who talked to The New Times welcomed the cash boost; they said that they will invest the money donated in their various projects.

"We have been having problems with feeding our animals, this is a big boost to our project in which we have high hopes,” said Emmanuel Kabera, the representative of ‘Tugire Ubutwari bwo kubaho’ orphans association which is running a piggery project.

Jean Baptiste Mutabaruka, the Executive Secretary of Rwaniro Sector, asked the beneficiaries to use the donation well and improve their economic status.

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