As a way of  supporting students living with HIV/AIDS, a non government organisation, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (CHABHA), will before the end of the year set up a scheme to enable them engage in agriculture.

CHABHA`s Executive Director, David Loewenguth, said that it will benefit students grouped under such associations as Amahoro, AJESOV in Nyamata and AGAPE in Kicukiro District, to support those infected and affected by the disease.

Loewenguth made the announcement last weekend’s monthly communal work (umuganda) at Groupe Scholaire Bumbogo, Gasabo District.

"We want to make sure that students are able to grow fruits and vegetables not only to improve their diet, but also benefit their communities or homes since they can, in the long-run, use the same skills to grow commercial products, thereby supporting their families,” said Loewenguth.

Amahoro Association is an umbrella of about 1,500 youths living with HIV. The association’s president, Aphrodisiac Ndagijimana, appreciated the move saying it would boost the association’s activities.

"This encourages us to even work harder since we realise that out there, there are people with whom we share goals,” Ndagijimana said.

One of the students who spoke to The New Times, Beatrice Kabatesi, was hopeful the project would play a great role in building their agricultural skills.

"Our part is to make sure that what we have planted is properly catered for so that they give us more to expand our farms,” said Kabatesi, a student and member of Amahoro association.

Students planted carrots, onions and Detroit dark red beet, as a pilot project.

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