The event to induct new members took place recently on Friday October 2022 at the home of the club’s treasurer, Rotarian D.P. Singh who resides in Kiyovu.

It is part of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga’s broad plan to work with other ten local clubs to open doors for a large number of new members so that Rwanda can be promoted to the status of district level.

Once the plan becomes successful, the country will benefit from funding allocated to each district of Rotary Club to complement existing programs to uplift citizens’ livelihoods.

Normally, Rwanda belongs to Rotary Club District 9150. The latter brings together ten countries which receive a fair share from funds provided by Rotary International to address some of problems facing the society.

This time around, Rotary Club Rwanda wants to see the country promoted to district level.

As per regulations governing the organization, a country with 40 clubs can be promoted to a district level with a requirement to reach the threshold of 80 clubs within a span of two years.

Today, Rwanda has 10 Rotary Clubs with plans to open news ones in all the 30 districts before the end of this year. If everything goes well, this year might leave Rwanda hitting the number of 40 clubs.

Past Assistant District Governor Paul Masterjerb Birungi, a member of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga who oversees Kigali Public Library revealed that they held talks with the President of Rotary International and promised the status once the 40 clubs are reached in Rwanda.

“You must present the project’s feasibility before the promotion. We plan to increase clubs so that Rwanda can become a district this year,” said Birungi.

He explained that Rotary Club Kigali Virunga birthed two new clubs last year namely; Rotary Club Kalisimbi and Rotary Club Senior, each with over 30 members.

“We are set to establish another club dubbed Rotary Club Kigali Golf in the near future. We also plan to increase members to at least 100 in this year expected to end in June,” said Birungi.

He disclosed that the target is to open clubs in all districts across the country. New members also said that they joined the club to contribute to activities aimed at bringing positive impact into people’s lives.

A Rotary Club District can receive funding ranging from US$200,000 to US$1.2 million to implement different community projects.

To this end, Birungi encouraged interested people with a kind heart to join the club so that the country can get promoted and benefit from the funding.

Rotary club is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes and fighting disease.

Rwanda has ten clubs including Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali, Musanze-Murera, Rotary Club Kalisimbi, Rotary Club Kigali Virunga, Rotary Club Kigali Doyen, Rotary Club Gasabo, Rotary Club Seniors, Rotary club Kivu Lake, Rotary club Butare.

Rotary Club Kigali Virunga has been involved in different activities to impact the society in different aspects of life.

It has partnered with the Government of Rwanda to build Kigali Public Library and renovated a transit accommodation facility for cancer patients from different parts of the country undergoing radiotherapy treatment at Kanombe Military Hospital coming.

During the event held on Friday, members raised Rwf2.3 million to facilitate the transportation of the patients from the facility to the hospital.