At a time when the proposed projects meant for orphans of the 1994 Genocide have been postponed owing to financial constraints, FINA Bank has honoured its vow of Rwf1.2 million. Steve Caley, the Director General of the Small Medium Enterprises (SME) bank said that the contribution towards the ‘One Dollar Campaign’ was made by both the staff and the bank. “Each contributed half of the sum and the money was wired direct to the project’s account in our bank,” he explained.Caley said that the employees pledged five dollars each early this year while the bank too pledged $1000. “This was a way of giving back to the community and also contribute towards reinstating hope in the Genocide victim,” he added. According to the Director General of the Rwanda Diaspora Directorate, Robert Masozera, the bank’s contribution comes at a time when over 50 percent of the total fund is in pledges. “We are closing in to a billion franc but much of this is in pledges, something that is hindering our progresses as far as construction is concerned,” he explained. Figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minaffet) based directorate show that the fund’s account had Rwf911.9 million as of July, 31th. Masozera therefore called upon individuals and companies that pledged to honour their pledges for the smooth running of the projects. The initiative was developed by Rwandans in the Diaspora with an aim of mobilising a symbolic one-dollar-each for construction of shelter for the survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. Ends
