Unity Club donates to widows, orphans

NYAMAGABE - Unity Club, led by its president, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Tuesday, donated 10 Friesian cows and an assortment of household items to Genocide widows and orphans of Munyinya community in Cyanika Sector, in a show of solidarity during this Genocide commemoration period.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
First Lady Jeannette Kagame pays respect to Genocide victims at Cyanika Genocide memorial site (Photo P. Ntambara)

NYAMAGABE - Unity Club, led by its president, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, Tuesday, donated 10 Friesian cows and an assortment of household items to Genocide widows and orphans of Munyinya community in Cyanika Sector, in a show of solidarity during this Genocide commemoration period.

She also promised, on behalf of Unity club, to renovate the dilapidated houses in the community.

Upon arrival, Mrs Kagame visited Cyanika Genocide memorial site where she laid a wreath on a mass grave containing the remains of over 30,000 Tutsi who were killed at the Cyanika Catholic parish during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

While addressing the Sector residents, the First Lady said that the visit was a show of solidarity with the families of genocide survivors as they embark on rebuilding their lives.

Unity Club, she said, is an organization that is committed to playing a significant role in promoting the unity among Rwandans. She added that the club works with other organizations to help orphans and widows overcome various challenges.

"We have come to visit and comfort you because we know the challenges that you are faced with...we are ready to listen to you,” Mrs Kagame said.

The First Lady also pledged cows to 88 families living in Birambo and Munyinya communities in Karama Cell.

"As Unity Club, we will continue to play an advocacy role so that you are able to sustain yourselves because this is the vision of the country,” she said.

Among other projects  the Club promised to play an advocacy role are; completion of Cyanika Genocide memorial, expansion of a nursery school in the sector, starting a vocational school and extending electricity to the Sector.

Meanwhile, the First Lady officiated at a ceremony to hand over mobile phone handsets to community health mobilisers in the Sector. This was in fulfilment of a pledge made by the President to community health workers, in a bid to improve health reporting systems and to ensure better follow up of patients.

"I am grateful to the President for honouring his pledge,” said Pelagie Muhimpundu, one of the beneficiaries.

"These phones will help us send reports on the health situation in our communities with ease”.

The function was attended by among others; Health Minister Richard Sezibera and Unity Club members.

Unity Club is an organization founded in 1996 and mainly comprises women leaders and spouses of high ranking government officials, past and present.

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