KIGALI - Hundreds of AERG students, army personnel and local residents, yesterday converged at the One Dollar Campaign Complex site in Kagugu, Gasabo District to clear the ground for the beginning of the construction work.

The project that was initiated by the Rwandan Diaspora Global Network (RDGN), aims at providing thousands of Genocide orphans with decent housing.

Speaking to The New Times at the site, the Director General of Diaspora in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Robert Masozera, said that they had decided to start the construction with the available funds while waiting for pledges to be honoured. So far, Rwf 888m of the Rwf 1.46bn pledged has been collected.

According to the Project Manager, Eng Appolinaire Sayinzoga, the complex will be constructed in phases. The first phase will be a four-storied hostel which will accommodate 192 students. Upon completion, the facility will accommodate up to 800.

The project had initially been priced at Rwf 1.5 bn, but Sayinzoga said that it was later re-designed to include other features like the income generating projects and recreation facilities which would contribute to the well being of the students. The project currently stands at Rwf 4.5 bn.

"We currently have about 20 tones of cement and other materials which can help us kick- off the construction early August,” he said, adding that construction companies had already placed in their bids.

The first batch of students is expected in the hostel by December 2011. The ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for July 15.

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