The spirit of giving and helping those in need is one of the foundations of the Rotary Club. Founded in 1904, the Rotary movement in Rwanda has been growing and presently there are 6 Rotary Clubs in different parts of the country including RC Musanze, RC Butare, RC Kibungo, RC Kigali-Gasabo, RC Kigali-Mont Jali, RC Kigali-Virunga and RC Kigali-Doyen.

The Rotary movement focuses on community welfare, education, environmental protection, combating ignorance and poverty, bringing health care closer to all, improving access to clean water, and helping the needy.

In support of the Government’s efforts, members of the Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga have raised funds to help those affected by Coronavirus.

To curb the spread of the Coronavirus, the Government of Rwanda has closed bars, schools, churches, conferences, and other public events. The lockdown will go on until April 30, 2020.

The food relief was sent to the National Strategic Grain Reserve, on April 29, 2020. It aims to help people who were affected by the lockdown.

Speaking on behalf of the club, Masterjerb Paul Birungi, told IGIHE that the event was aimed at continuing to provide assistance and support to the government in reaching out to people affected by Coronavirus.

“We thought of something we could do to support the fight against the COVID-19. The authorities advised us to support the needy with food. As we usually do, when someone has a problem, we do our best to contribute,’’ he said.

The Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga raised Rwf2 million from its 32 members,

“We bought three tones including one and a half beans and maize flour. We won’t stop here, we are doing our best so that we can help out again,” he said.

The Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga has sponsored various projects to help the community such as the construction of a building in Kinyinya that will accommodate cancer patients who will be treated at the Military Hospital in Kanombe in Kigali City.

Other clubs are also doing their best to help communities affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Rotary Club of Kigali-Doyen has donated Rwf 3 Million to support the Solid Africa Charity, which cares for homeless patients and caters food for them.

The Club also donated to the National Health Center, RBC hand sanitizers, and hygienic items including 160 handwashing tanks, worth Rwf 12 Million.

Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga (RCKV), Masterjerb Paul Birungi, has noted that the donated food supplies is a support initiative to vulnerable families who have been affected by the lockdown aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19