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Giving Back to the Community
Local residents laud Chinese community in Rwanda for much-needed support offered to poverty-stricken students
Reporting from Rwanda Alafati Mugabo 丨VOL. 14 August 2022 ·2022-08-22


RCA donates books and other educational materials to local students. The photo shows RCA President Yin Qingri giving some books to a student at GS Tanda in Gicumbi District

Twenty-six Chinese companies in partnership with the Rwanda Chinese Association (RCA) donated 20 million Rwandan francs ($19,467.38) in cash and gifts worth 15 million Rwandan francs ($14,600.53) to poverty-stricken students of the Tanda Primary and Secondary School (GS Tanda) in Rwanda’s Northern Province. 

The donation and gifts brought immense joy to the residents of Giti Sector in Gicumbi District, who lauded Chinese enterprises in Rwanda for the support offered to the community. 

James Muhire, 40, a father of four and one of the parents whose children received study materials from the Chinese community, said that he is certain children will study for a complete academic year without worrying about limited books and other materials.  

“I have noticed that my two sons each received 20 books, two mathematical sets, two pairs of school uniforms and gifts from Chinese well-wishers. For me, Chinese in Rwanda are like brothers because I don’t believe anyone other than a brother would wish to support your children’s future,” said Muhire. 

Muhire told ChinAfrica that he had sent his two sons to school without books and other basic materials this academic term because he did not have the money to purchase them.  

“I am happy to be relieved from the burden of buying books and other school materials because they have received them from our Chinese brothers.”  

 

Students and RCA members celebrate Children’s Day at GS Tanda, Gicumbi District

Much-needed help  

As the pupils expressed happiness during the Chinese donation at school, 13-year-old Jean Bosco Mugwiza said his wish was to get books for the whole academic term. 

“If I were to choose a gift, I would choose books, uniforms and a bag. My father is a farmer and most of the time he does not have money to buy books and uniforms,” said the sixth-grade pupil who wakes up every day at 6 a.m. to trek 5 km to GS Tanda, with a dream to become a civil engineer. 

Fiona Ishimwe, a 10-year-old primary student, was delighted to see that the school received food and money that will help feed the students.  

“I am happy that from today until the end of the term, we will not miss lunch at school as it used to be before the Chinese donated food and money to our school,” said Ishimwe, the fourth child in a family of eight.  

The support granted to the school included stationery, food supplies, books, bags and school uniforms, sanitary napkins, sanitisers and blankets, among others. 

It is not common for schools to receive food donations and study materials for children, though these are urgently needed by the schools in Rwanda. But at the GS Tanda, the RCA put shining smiles on the faces of hundreds of children when they donated the money and gifts. 

“The money we have received can feed students for two terms and more importantly, children got different gifts from the Chinese. Words cannot fully express how we feel here in Giti. We appreciate their deeds,” said Clair Uwamariya, a teacher at the school. 

Innocent Gakuba, Headteacher of the school, said the donation will help feed the students of the school, which does not have enough budget. 

“We are happy about this donation from the Chinese business people and the RCA because for a long time we did not have enough money to feed all of the 1,500 students at the school. It is our first time getting a donation from a foreign association,” said Gakuba. 

The headteacher said that the government provides funds for school meals, including his school, but at times the number of students is high, which makes it hard for the school to provide enough food for all of the children. 

Gifts donated by the Chinese community will also help learners in their academic and co-curricular activities. “Such gifts create friendship between the Chinese and our school, and Rwandans in general,” said Gakuba. 

The headteacher told ChinAfrica that the majority of children at the school are from poor families who depend on informal farming, which makes it difficult for some parents to provide even a pen or books to their children. 

In addition, some pay school fees on time, others delay and some do not pay at all, especially those from poor families who do not have work or their own farmland.  

  

Students welcome guests during a donation event at GS Tanda in Gicumbi District

Social obligation 

“This donation aims to continue supporting the Government of Rwanda in the school-feeding program, a move local and foreign companies should support to ensure that all Rwandan children are hunger-free while at school,” said Yin Qingri, President of the RCA.  

Yin said that the Chinese are not just in Rwanda for business purposes, but also have a social obligation to give back to the society, hence the desire to help reduce the burden of students from low-income families and a strong will to bring life-changing solutions to Rwandan communities. 

“The Chinese community in Rwanda is 10 years old, meaning it’s still young, but our target is to at least donate wherever possible with the purpose to help improve the lives of many Rwandans,” said Yin. 

He noted that the next donation will be at one of the schools in Muhanga District in Southern Province of Rwanda and that will be probably in September this year.  

He said that as someone who grew up in a poor family, he knows the challenges children from such families go through to complete the school education. That is why he always wants to support those whose parents are too poor to pay for their studies. 

Yin further said that the drive to support the education of children is an indication of how much the Chinese community is committed to leading the way in contributing to Rwanda’s development.  

He noted that the RCA, with a membership of over 100, and Chinese companies in Rwanda would continue to support the school, especially by providing resources for the purchase of the much-needed study materials and meals. 

“Good learning facilities will improve education without a doubt. In addition, we support education because education is the key to success. We are glad that enrolment has increased in this school and the number of school dropouts has reduced. And all we can do is to continue supporting the schools in Rwanda,” he said.  

According to Parfaite Uwera, Vice Mayor of Gicumbi District, the donation is a good demonstration of true friendship between China and Rwanda. There is hope that the children from GS Tanda can do well in their studies so that they can in the future contribute to the development of Gicumbi and Rwanda in general. 

Dongfeng Liuzhou Motors Ltd., Carcarbaba, Choice Logistics, Landy Industries Ltd., Master Health, Trend Construction Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Homart Industrial Ltd., D Mall Hotel, Far East Logistics, Beijing Paper Corp. Ltd., China Star Construction (Rwanda) Co. Ltd., Brother Building Materials Ltd. and the World Hongmen History and Culture Association are among the Chinese entities in Rwanda that contributed to the donation.  

  

 

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