SOUTHTERN PROVINCE HUYE — The staff of Hotel Des Mille Collines last Friday donated an assortment of materials to orphans in Karama Sector, Huye District. The items included eight sewing machines and their accessories, bales of cloth, eight bags of rice, four bags of beans, cooking oil and sugar. The orphans are living in an association called Umucyo. “We hoteliers are always trying to help those affected by the genocide by not only giving them food but also giving them something that can push them forward in terms of development,” J.D Mbarushimana the Administrative and Financial Manager of Des Mille Collines said. The district Mayor Eimable Twagiramutara who attended the occasion thanked the staff of Des Mille Collines for the donations saying the machine would help the orphans generate income. “The sewing machines will be of much help to the association and the people living within the area because there are many schools with students that will need the tailoring services,” Twagiramutara said. He also promised continued support to the orphans’ association because of its good developmental goals that are likely to benefit the unprivileged in Karama sector. “We at the district shall work hand in hand and continue supporting your association to achieve its objectives because they are in line with our development goals,” he added. During the same visit, the team visited Karama Genocide memorial site located near the Sector offices where they said prayers for the souls of the victims of the 1994 Genocide and laid wreaths on the mass graves. The Umucyo orphans association started in 2006 with an aim to help the many orphans in Karama develop skills and uplift their living standards. Today the association has orphans drawn from over 40 families in Karama sector with most of them enrolled in school and engaged in farming and other commercial activities. Ends