Last Thursday morning, some 45 guests convened at the Soy Asian Table restaurant, where they were greeted with macarons, lots of coffee, and a mesmerising opera performance. The duo of Lithuanian Soprano Sandra Lebrikaitė and South Korean Pianist Eunsook Lee captivated the audience with their renditions of ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Think of Me’ from Phantom of the Opera. Their 15-minute performance transcended the room, transporting everyone present into a musical journey through time. The occasion was ‘Coffee Mornings’, a gathering held by the Africa International Club Rwanda (AIC) every month. Afrilux décor and Suhaa Schmitz Accessories had their respective products on show off to the side, enhancing the group-friendly ambience of the room. The crowd seemed to be dominated by expatriates, predominantly women, who were in Rwanda for various reasons. They all seemed upbeat and eager to mix. Following a speech by Question Coffee, the event’s sponsor, Aisté Galubické, the incumbent president, addressed the group. She reminded the audience that the key items on the day’s agenda were electing a new president (due to her impending departure from Rwanda), her reflections on the previous year, and an overview of the club’s financial transactions. AIC was founded about 35 years ago as a fun-loving community of internationals who are connected by their shared experience of residing in Rwanda. Over time, the club’s membership grew and evolved, transforming into an English-speaking community that incorporated a charitable aspect. Through various social events, funds were generated to support their philanthropic endeavours. From September through June, AIC consistently organised coffee mornings, social gatherings, and outings for its members. For years, the club has dedicated itself to humanitarian work, focusing on supporting marginalised groups within the Rwandan community. Their efforts extend to disadvantaged individuals such as single mothers, street children, orphans, refugees, individuals with disabilities, victims of abuse, and those battling chronic illnesses. However, as Covid-19 brought about a global disruption, AIC, like many others, was significantly impacted, leading to challenges in sustaining their social projects. The club experienced a decline in membership, resulting in a downward trend. The revival of a group that the surviving members believed was too influential to be disbanded became their top objective right away. With obvious ease and comfort, Galubické took the stage at Soy Restaurant as she described the year from her perspective as president. “I and a few club members took it upon ourselves to create a new era for AIC after the pandemic shrunk the organisation,” she said. “So gradually, we came to the decision to start out only holding meetings even if unsure of the path ahead. Being together, in my opinion, was what was most vital. Most of the time, we didn’t know what we were doing.” Her voice quivering with emotion, she went on, “We persuaded ourselves that even though we were few, we could still make a change.” These initial meetings eventually led to a successful Christmas dinner, attended by approximately 130 people, and a remarkable Food Fair that attracted around 1300 attendees. Galubické playfully remarked, “If you weren’t there, you have yourself blame,” highlighting the tremendous success of these events. Following the election of the new vice president, the next item on the agenda involved discussing financial projections and the allocation of funds by the committee, which prompted a flurry of raucous applause and whistles from the audience. A total of 14 different projects received Rwf 8.6 million between May 2022 and December 2022. In 2023, from January until the present, two projects were supported with a total of Rwf 1.3 million. Galubické joined the cheers of the crowd and allowed them to fade before continuing. She emphasised, “These figures are crucial because they serve as evidence of the meaningful work we are accomplishing here. I have some friends who insist that we just meet for coffee because we have nothing to do.” Those sentiments are grossly inaccurate. The AIC is far more than a bunch of idle folks who go on coffee dates because they have too much time on their hands and not enough to do. The slogan for inviting people to their social activities is rather straightforward: Bring people together. They do, however, much more than that. They are dedicated to empowering local projects and communities. Through the funds raised during these social events, the organisation demonstrates their commitment to supporting children by providing essential items such as breakfast, food aid, school supplies, toys, and hygiene products. Moreover, they actively contribute to school construction and even facilitate milk production through the provision of cows. In their efforts to empower young women, AIC donates sewing machines, offers financial assistance for education and skills training, and extends support to potters. The organisation’s new vice president, Tahmeena Tahir, clarifies the typical flow of the grant application process. She said the grant application and selection process as well as the necessary steps for the project’s implementation, supervision, and evaluation by members of the Small Grant Committee make up the grant procedure. “All local (Rwanda) grassroots organisations, associations, or cooperatives are welcome to apply for funds, which we informally market to members and community organizations. The website has application forms ready,” Tahir said. The association now has 110 members representing just over 20 countries. One of the current members enthusiastically describes the club as “exceptional” and expresses his intention to remain a member for as long as the club exists. Claude Bizimana, the founder of SEDI Rwanda, an initiative that focuses on sports and education development for disadvantaged youth in the rural areas surrounding Kigali, Rwanda, received a grant for his NGO. Bizimana believes in the importance of encouraging others to get involved and said, “I want to see more people like me taking an interest, and I believe it begins with someone inviting them.” Which is why he persuaded his 35-year-old friend Bonheur Pacifique, who was also present, to join. When people support AIC, they aren’t simply helping the organisation; they are also supporting Rwandans, according to Bizimana. Towards the end of the event, Galubické was joined on stage by several of the women, including Adela Asanga, a committee member responsible for organising events and hailing from Cameroon. Asanga became a member in December of the previous year, enticed by the opportunities for exposure and networking. She was even successful in bringing a fellow Cameroonian friend into the committee. Subsequently, more than a dozen additional members gathered on stage, flanking Galubické, creating a memorable moment for group photographs. It is crucial to highlight these situations as they reflect two significant aspects of the organisation: The group is an illustration of how Rwanda is steadily but irrevocably embracing diversity. It also provides a glimpse into the organisation’s strong commitment to humanitarian support, offering insights into their core values and priorities as an established and well-supported institution. By bridging gaps in cultural diversity and prioritising Rwanda in all their endeavors, they demonstrate their dedication to fostering unity and positively impacting their host country. South African-born Andrea Kucera, who was recently elected president of AIC, emphasised the significance of increasing the group’s influence. She talked about a strategic plan that called for monthly visits to various NGOs and organisations in Rwanda in order to accomplish this. These trips served as a means of deepening understanding of the local way of life and keeping up with ongoing projects. In order to promote genuine contacts and community collaboration, Kucera also planned to host regular networking events. With the overall goal of reviving AIC’s initiatives, this proactive approach was created to last throughout the following years. “We already host our coffee mornings where we invite anyone interested to come and showcase their businesses,” she explained. “Supporting grassroots projects and giving back to Rwanda is our core mission,” she said, adding, “It's the positive impact we make.” She further expressed the attraction of being surrounded by “intelligent, connected, and passionate individuals, all driven to make a difference with their groundbreaking ideas. It’s truly inspiring.”
