15-year-old Rwandan donates $ 2,000 to One Dollar campaign

15-year-old Rwandan author, Keza Ruzima, yesterday, donated $ 2,000 (approx Rwf 1.1 million), to the One Dollar Campaign project. The project was initiated by the Rwandan Diaspora Global Network (RDGN), with the aim of providing thousands of Genocide orphans with decent housing.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Keza Ruzima in an interview after handing over her donation to the One Dollar Campaign (Photo F Goodman)

15-year-old Rwandan author, Keza Ruzima, yesterday, donated $ 2,000 (approx Rwf 1.1 million), to the One Dollar Campaign project.

The project was initiated by the Rwandan Diaspora Global Network (RDGN), with the aim of providing thousands of Genocide orphans with decent housing.

In an interview with The New Times, Ruzima, who has, so far, published two books, said that she felt happy to be part of such a good cause.

"I came to know about this project from a friend in Norway and I thought I could also do something to support it,” Keza said, adding that she had previously been donating some money to the project through the Rwandan High Commission in Canada where she lives with her father.

The 15-year old started writing at the age 10 and published her first book titled ‘The Friendship Mess’ and recently released ‘Girl Power.’

The One Dollar Campaign Project Manager, Eng. Appolinaire Sayinzoga, said that the construction of the complex located at Kagugu, a city suburb, is expected to kick off mid September.

"Plans were that the first phase kicks off in August, but later we were told that FARG was going to give us more funds for the construction, so there was change of plans,” said Sayinzoga.

FARG is the Fund for Support for Genocide Survivors which is financed by the government of Rwanda.

The project, according to Sayinzoga, currently has about Rwf 900 million with which they intend to construct a one-block hostel that can accommodate 192 students and a restaurant.

He, however, said that this is subject to change once they get the additional funds from FARG.

Upon completion of the entire project, the facility will accommodate up to 800 students.

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