I’m going to be volunteering with a charity called “Reaching Rwanda”. The aim of my visit to Rwanda is to work with a range of projects which will leave a lasting benefit & legacy for Genocide survivors & vulnerable children.

Many of you may remember the the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, when One million innocent adults & children were slaughtered in 100 days.

The survivors continue to carry the physical & emotional scars. Many are HIV positive or have AIDs. As a consequence, many are homeless & destitute, due to alienation.

During the last few months I have been sending money ahead of my trip, to finance the construction of some basic, sturdy houses for these vulnerable families, or groups of street children. Whilst in Rwanda I will be helping to decorate & furnish these homes & hand them over to the relevant families or groups of children. For most of the children, this will be the first time they will experience having a personal, safe space of their own. Some of the funds I raise on this page will go towards furnishing the homes.

From the UK I will also be bringing some clothes, toys & sweets for these families/children.

Livestock like goats & cows can provide an income generating opportunity & a valuable improvement to the diet of Genocide survivors. My aim is to raise money to purchase some goats & cows to give to the local people. A goat cost £40 & a cow cost £200

As the original Genocide survivors die, their children continue to be caught in the poverty cycle. Education gives them an opportunity to work their way out of that trap & a hope for their future. To aid this, I will be raising funds so that I can take educational & other supplies for the local education centre. Items like books, pens, arts & crafts, toys & sports equipment.

There is an opportunity to sponsor a young vulnerable child to attend school for a year & I would dearly love to be able to do this if I can raise enough money. The cost of providing teaching, a uniform & basic school supplies for a year is £150

Please consider donating towards this cause. Your donation, big or small, will help to provide life changing opportunities to others who, through no fault of their own, struggle to survive on a daily basis.

As Nelson Mandela said “ What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived; it is the difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

Thank you for taking the time to read about this cause which is very dear to my heart.