Rwanda Arsenal Fan Club (RAFC) on Saturday, September 11, helped to coonect 66 families to the electricity grid. The families are survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi living in Nyentanga Village, Kigeme Cell, Gasaka Sector in Nyamagabe District.
The project cost about Rwf 74 million.
This was the 7th time RAFC has supported Rwandans that were devastated by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in Nyamagabe District, Kabayiza Lambert, thanked the Arsenal fans for the initiative and for supporting government programs that are helping Rwandans have a way of life.
"We welcome this gesture by Arsenal fans in Rwanda especially because these families have been without electricity for a long time. We thank them for providing these families with a modern way of lighting which is in fact a response and support and Government’s wish to have the whole of Rwanda electrified by 2024 t" he said.
Some residents of Nyentanga Village said that having electricity will lift them out of isolation and save them from the problems they faced, including being unable to do anything during night hours.
Mukagashugi Espérance who has been living in Nyentanga Village since 1998 thanked Arsenal fans for their work, saying that it was difficult to leave the house in the wee hours of the night.
Mwami Aaron Kevin, head of the Rwanda Arsenal Fans C;ub, said that the idea of providing electricity to the residents of the village was brought about by one of the members of RAFC and as is the tradition, the members put funds together to support the initiative
"It is our culture to help or support government programs in uplifting our society. We thank Rwanda Energy Group (REG) that helped us get closer to our pots.”
Founded in 2013 and formalized in 2015, the Rwanda Arsenal Fan Club is currently made up of over 1,000 members who live by the adage - Be A Gooner, Be A Giver, as they promote and participate in socio-economic development programs, sports, governance, domestic tourism (Visit Rwanda) and culture promotion in and outside Rwanda
Last year, Rwanda Arsenal Fan Club donated food and grants to 86 families of 430 survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Gasabo District in Jali Sector in an operation that cost 5 million Frw
In 2019, RAFC donated a commercial greenhouse and mushroom seedlings to elderly survivors in Kinyinya sector, in 2018 they renovated 2 houses for widowed elderly survivors in Bugesera district, in 2017 sponsored Health insurance for over 200 families and renovated one house for a survivor in Gasabo district, in 2016 RAFC provided livestock (goats) for 25 families in Kayonza District and in 2015 supported survivors in Nyanza District with 200 livestock.