BUGESERA  — The staff of Ecobank over the weekend donated items worth Frw1.9 millions to widows and orphans of Pamba 1 settlement in Kamabuye sector, Bugesera district.

The items included bags of maize flour, beans, rice, sugar, cooking oil and boxes of soap. The settlement accommodates 15 orphans and 36 widows of the 1994 Genocide.

Daniel Sackey, the bank’s Managing Director who led the delegation handed over the donation. He said aid was part of their social responsibility policy to give back to the community, who are their clients.

He said, "But most of all, it is also part of our responsibility to care, restore hope in order to heal the wounds suffered during the 1994 Genocide.”

He added, "Though a lot happened that has stuck in people’s minds, you should be comfortable with life now because you are the luckiest among others since many didn’t make it. That is a blessing.”

Sackey asked the widows to strive to educate the orphans in order to shape their future. He urged orphans to take education seriously.

It was the first such visit by the bank’s staff, Sackey said. He encouraged his staff to continue making personal visits to the needy community.

Isabelle Mucyowera, the district vice mayo in charge of social affairs, who received the donation, said, "It is an honor for the Ecobank staff to remember the orphans and widows of the 1994 Genocide. It gives hope. The orphans and widows rarely get aid perhaps because they are far away from memorial sites or Kigali City yet they are faced with a lot of problems.”

"As leaders, we are challenged by the needs of these people including school fees, clothing, medical care and feeding, but we are always doing whatever we can to make life better,” she added.

Jean Mukakibibi, the Cell Executive Secretary explained that feeding, clothing and education were the most pressing challenges facing the children.

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