21.07.09 - RWANDA/GENOCIDE - DEFENCE MINISTRY STAFF RAISES OVER $70,000 FOR ORPHANS OF 1994 GENOCIDE

21 July 2009 By

Arusha, 21 July 2009 (FH) - The personnel of the Rwandan Ministry of Defence contributed on Monday 41,280 million Rwandan francs (approximately 74,000 American dollars) to the the "One Dollar Campaign" launched in April to construct homes for 600 orphans of the 1994 genocide, reported on Tuesday state Radio Rwanda.

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The Minister for Defence, General Marcel Gatsinzi, handed over the cheque to Robert Masozera, the coordinator of the campaign launched by Rwandans in diaspora.

The minister said that the amount came from contributions of employees, both military and civilian.

In addition to the financial assistance, technicians from the ministry of defence will take part in constructing the houses for orphans, assured General Gatsinzi.

This initiative has the support of the public institutions as well as Rwandan privately owned companies.

Eminent persons of the country, as well as their wives, have also reached into their pockets.

In addition, on 22 June, footballers from Chelsea and Barcelona, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o, respectively, took part in Kigali in a charity match to benefit the orphans. Kolo Touré (Arsenal), his brother Yaya Touré (Barcelona) and Rigobert Song (Galatasaray) were also in the line-up at the match's kick-off.

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