The Bedford Rotary Club learned in January 2016 that it was approved to receive a Rotary Foundation Global Grant in partnership with the Kigali Mont Jali Rotary Club toward a plan to outfit the Mbyo Peace Village in Rwanda with more than $30,000 USD in equipment, furniture, and supplies that will bring economic impact to a village in great need of restoration.
The needed funds will provide workshops, classes and forums on peace building, forgiveness, and conflict resolution, as well as specialized training to the Mbyo Peace Village community of 290 genocide survivors, their perpetrators, and their families.
Bedford Rotary Club Past President David Herrick wrote the grant application and worked with the Kigali Mont Jali Rotary Club in Rwanda to identify the needs, develop goals, and plan the projects and training that would meet the needs of the local people in that village. The funds will provide vocational training to the villagers in welding, sewing, plumbing and construction. Students of all ages will be taught skills that will encourage sustainable living, peace and reconciliation for a strong future.
Rwanda, a landlocked Central African country, is the most densely populated country in Africa where 11.5 million people live. More than 90 percent of the people are subsistence farmers and 44 percent of the population are under the age of 15. The horrific 1994 genocide resulted in the loss of over 1 million people and the Rwandans continue to work hard toward recovery. Although the local people have made great progress, there's still much work to be done, especially in those communities where survivors live and work with those who participated in the genocide.
In addition to the vocational classes and peace and resolution training, the Rotary grant will also provide materials to assist a primary school and nursery school, as well as a hostel that is planned to provide housing for students in outlying villages.
For more information, please contact David Herrick here.
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The needed funds will provide workshops, classes and forums on peace building, forgiveness, and conflict resolution, as well as specialized training to the Mbyo Peace Village community of 290 genocide survivors, their perpetrators, and their families.
Bedford Rotary Club Past President David Herrick wrote the grant application and worked with the Kigali Mont Jali Rotary Club in Rwanda to identify the needs, develop goals, and plan the projects and training that would meet the needs of the local people in that village. The funds will provide vocational training to the villagers in welding, sewing, plumbing and construction. Students of all ages will be taught skills that will encourage sustainable living, peace and reconciliation for a strong future.
Rwanda, a landlocked Central African country, is the most densely populated country in Africa where 11.5 million people live. More than 90 percent of the people are subsistence farmers and 44 percent of the population are under the age of 15. The horrific 1994 genocide resulted in the loss of over 1 million people and the Rwandans continue to work hard toward recovery. Although the local people have made great progress, there's still much work to be done, especially in those communities where survivors live and work with those who participated in the genocide.
In addition to the vocational classes and peace and resolution training, the Rotary grant will also provide materials to assist a primary school and nursery school, as well as a hostel that is planned to provide housing for students in outlying villages.
For more information, please contact David Herrick here.
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