It was a day filled with excitement, bliss, and gratitude on June 17, as students of GS St. Paul Rurembo School in the western province received donations from the Rwanda Chinese Association. This gesture came after the devastating floods and landslides that occurred on May 2 and 3, which left many residents of Nyabihu homeless, properties destroyed, and lives lost.
37 Company members of the Rwanda Chinese Association actively participated in the charity event, providing the students with foodstuffs such as maize flour, rice, milk, as well as other items like cooking oil, plastic shoes, toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and scholastic materials including bags, pens, laptops. The donation is equivalent to Rwf18 million.
In his address, the Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Wang Xuekun emphasized that children are the future and hope of the nation, and their physical and mental health, as well as their growth, have always been the focus of attention from all walks of society.
He highlighted the significance of GS St. Paul Rurembo School as an important educational institution in the local area, with over 1,800 students and 39 classrooms, despite limited resources. This led the Chinese entrepreneurs in Rwanda to pay attention to such issues and strongly believe that while a company develops itself, it should also assume its corresponding social responsibilities and give back to society, hence the initiation of the charity activity.
Xuekun further noted the immense losses and property damage caused by the floods, which deeply moved the Chinese community in Rwanda. They felt compelled to mobilize resources and funds to offer necessary support to the students.
Addressing the audience at the event, Nyabihu District Mayor Antoinette Mukandayisenga expressed her appreciation for the kind gesture of the Rwanda Chinese Association and explained the extent of the floods' impact on the Nyabihu district. She also mentioned that the government of Rwanda has implemented interventions to help the affected people, including evacuations and temporary relocation of individuals from high-risk areas. Mukandayisenga emphasized that the affected residents have been provided with necessary assistance, and the government is actively working on long-term solutions.
In conclusion, Mukandayisenga stated, "Your act shows how much you recognize our local community. Thank you for your solidarity and time in assisting our affected community. We sincerely appreciate your efforts, commitment, and partnership in supporting students.”
Onesphole Ntawigomwa, the headteacher of GS St. Paul Rurembo School, expressed gratitude for the donations and stressed that the food would enhance the school feeding program, encouraging learners to have a balanced diet. He added that this support would enable the students to perform well and improve their overall well-being.
Ntawigomwa also extended his appreciation to the government of Rwanda for their cooperation with the Chinese government.
Yin Qingri, the president of the Rwanda Chinese Association, expressed hope that the public would actively participate in activities focused on caring for children. He called upon more organizations and individuals to lend a helping hand to the youngsters, as they are the future of tomorrow.
Qingri stated, "We hope that the whole society will attach great importance to children and care for them, allowing more people to pay attention, understand, and participate. As a socially responsible organization, the Rwanda Chinese Association considers caring for Rwanda's public welfare as an important part of its culture. It actively carries out various public welfare activities, assumes responsibility for local development, and provides more social contributions to the country, striving for a win-win future.”