WDA workers donate to orphans and widows

THE Work Force Development Authority (WDA) Friday at donated food stuffs worth Rwf 2,000,000 to orphans and widows of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Shyorongi Sector, Rulindo District in the Northern Province.

Sunday, April 18, 2010
WDA Director General, Albert Nsengiyunva, hands over some of the donations to one of the widows. (Courtesy photo)

THE Work Force Development Authority (WDA) Friday at donated food stuffs worth Rwf 2,000,000 to orphans and widows of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Shyorongi Sector, Rulindo District in the Northern Province.

At the ceremony, WDA Director General, Albert Nsengiyunva, called upon the society not to live because it had problems but because it has a purpose to fulfil.
"We chose to come here because during this commemoration period, most of our partners visited Genocide survivors in the city and few have gone to rural areas,” he said.

"We also know that survivors struggle to make ends meet. That’s why we decided to give out foodstuff as well as look into their problems and do the little we can to help overcome them.”

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Emile Hakizimana, the president of the orphans in Shyorongi, revealed that there were 130 children orphaned by Genocide in 30 households.

"Most of these children here have tried to go to school, 26 are at university, 30 are in secondary school, 6 in primary school, 38 are farmers and others are also trying to do other businesses. However they are incapacitated and lack funds to help them further themselves and develop,” he said.

Nsengiyunva requested the survivors to work hard and not look at themselves and their problems. He asked them to work together and help one another to develop.

"You didn’t request to be orphans, but what we ask of you is to unite and work together in groups. It is even better for those who wish to help to do so for a group than to individuals,” he told the survivors.

Nsengiyunva promised the survivors that WDA will form a committee that will look into their problems and work closely with their leaders and other partners  to help them.
Speaking to The Sunday Times,  Nsengiyunva also said that problems concerning education were paramount and such would be handled immediately.

WDA employees later paid respect to over 2000 victims of the 1994 genocide laid in a grave adjacent to the Shyorongi Sector office.

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