RWANDA GROUP TRUST (Patron Bishop Paul Swarbrick)
May 2025
Greetings All,
I begin this month’s letter witha tribute to one of our former trustees. Michael Donlan reports: ‘Since the last Newsletter, the trustees of the RGT were sorry to hear of the death of former trustee, Chris Helm. Chris joined the RGT committee in November, 2006 and, as well as being a valuable trustee, he also managed the accounts for many years until ill health prevailed and he was forced to resign. We also remember his involvement with the fundraising from Hill Chapel, which enabled the construction of the Kabuga Health Centre.
Since his resignation on ill health grounds, Chris continued to be a generous benefactor of the Trust and still took an interest in its affairs.
We send our condolences to his wife, Dorothy and to all his family and thank them for their very generous donation in memory of Chris.
Our quarterly Trustee Meeting was held on Saturday, 26th April.
Trustees present: Michael Donlan, Mark Ibison, Myra Gregory, Clare Spicer, Judith Potts.
Apologies: Veronica Sanders, Bernadette Roberts
We sent £1,000 in February to each of our groups, [as well as an extra £510 donated for goats and pigs (the price of which now greatly exceeds the £30 we used to quote!)]
Each £1,000 was used as follows as follows:
Beatrice in Kigali helped provide education for 50 students; ‘Funds used for school fees in terms of 30,000 per student, food and clothing for 4; ‘Funds used for buying food to malnourished children of Kabuga Health Center, Funds used to pay health insurance to 30 people from vulnerable families from Kabuga Health Center.’
Beatrice writes, ‘The members of Kigali Group are doing well and send with this message their greetings and their best wishes for the Easter which is coming soon!
As students will begin the third term on April, 21th, I met the President Brother Eric Dushimimana and, we discussed on the beginning of the third term. In that meeting, we decided on the utilization of the last tranche sent in February.
The President accepts to reach each committee member for distribution of amount reserved to beneficiaries accompanied. Every committee member has to serve 10 students and, the Health Center receive the amount for malnourished children and vulnerable family members received health insurance fees.
The attachment of this message shows the details of distribution of the amount received. It’s not enough to cover the school fees but if we receive the next tranche, we will add it to try to complete the school fees amount.’
Petronille in Gikongoro paid education fees for 31 students; food and clothing for 59 people….’Twenty (20)indigents households: 20,000RW per family 15 people living and/or affected by HIV/AIDS: 20,000RWF per person, Lunch at school for 9 former street children in primary school, drugs and palliative care for 2 persons with cancer disease 35,000RWF per person.’
Fr. Placide in Cyangugu paid school fees for 10 students; food and clothing for 57 families; housing for 1 family. He also bought pigs and/or goats for 13 families.
He writes, ‘First receive our greetings from RGT-Cyangugu Group.
We really appreciate your help and your assistance. Due to the war in Eastern provinces in Democratic Republic of Congo, many families have immigrated in our area that’s why the families we helped in Food have increased. The currency of Rwanda has been decreased, there’s poverty and everything here is very expressive(=expensive).
Due to the decision of United States of America there many people who are jobless. We have heavy wind and rain which destroyed houses and crops.’
Fr. Fabien in Nyundo supported 30 students in education, 29 people with food and clothing, 2 people with Health Care and 1 with Housing.
He writes: ‘Please accept our cordial greetings. Eastern approaching, allow us to wish you a good preparation and then, a good celebration of Eastern in joy and peace.
We hasten to communicate to you the report of the use of the payment received in February 2025, next week we enter the days of commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi.
The report is very similar to the previous one. We preferred to help the same students plus one.
While the destitute in need of food still have no place to get out of even because of the bad weather; drought followed bad too much rainfall.
Winds and rains destroy the house of the poor and diseases follow. This explains figures in this regard.
At the time we are preparing this report, we are told that in the southern area of the diocese, in three places, the roofs of the classrooms have been washed away. But, fortunately there were no human casualties.
The security situation seems calm but not reassuring because of the conflicts in neighboring Congo.’
DON’T THESE REPORTS JUST TEAR AT THE HEARTSTRINGS!!!
MAY’S FUNDING
Due to the generosity of so many of our supporters, we have been able to send £1,500 to each of our 4 groups, an increase of £500 to each group. An extra £210 was sent for goats and pigs.
EXTRA REQUEST FOR FUNDING FROM SISTER PHILOMENE
‘……I am for the moment new to Cyangugu. I have received a new appointment. I will start a new community after this new nursery school. It was on a high mountain that I named “Mont de la wisdom”. I will take care of the children of this school, especially the disabled children who cannot go home either. They come from different corners of our province.
It is. For this that we penalize a new community to take care of them. The sum I received from Fr. Placide I bought the goats for the poor children of Murehe.
Mark I would like to do a small project for breeding hens and pigs for the new school. Is it possible to find some people to finance such small projects? 2000 lifting sterling for 150 hens and 2000 pounds sterling for 10 pigs. Thankyou and good Easter celebration.’
Mark requested more information and received the following:
‘…..These two projects are for 17 poor and disabled children who attend our school. The 17 always stay at school, they eat and eat at school. They are unable to pay school fees and we are obliged to feed them and provide them with housing. I think that, by raising pigs or chickens, we will be able to improve their diet and buy school materials for them. The other healthy children who attend our school always return home to their families…..we could start with one of these two projects, specifically the pig project. It’s slower.’
We are unable, at present, to assist with this but may have a special fundraising event at some point in the future.
FUNDRAISING
Our Table Top Sale in February, after Room Hire raised £586.22. April’s amount was £411.56. Unfortunately the price for the hire of the rooms increases next time, so we need to work even harder!!! 14th June is our next sale, followed by 9th August. Any good items for sale or raffle will be gratefully accepted by any of our trustees and all are welcome to come along and support. We have found it to be a lovely social event where people see old friends and new and enjoy a good old chinwag over a cup of tea or coffee!!
Please contact me to book a table for £10.
Keep Fit raised £695.25 (including Gift Aid) from January to the end of April….yet I don’t seem to be any fitter!!!
We finally managed to sell our electric bike.
MANY THANKS, AS ALWAYS, TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THESE EVENTS.
The Bamber family have promised us an amazing fundraising event in the near future. Watch this space. We await with bated breath!!!
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR IN RWANDA AND FOR US IN OUR EFFORTS TO HELP PROVIDE AN EASIER LIFE FOR THEM ALL.
If you are able to donate, this can be done in the following ways:
- To a Trustee
- Bank Transfer via BACS to our Santander Bank a/c:
Rwanda Group Trust
Sort Code: 09-01-29
A/C No. 08478395
- By cheque payable to: ‘Rwanda Group Trust’
Send to
Rwanda Group Trust
17, Mayfield Road
Preston
PR2 1EX
GIFT AID
If you are a tax payer, we can reclaim the tax paid on your donation at no extra cost to you. Please ask for a Gift Aid form if you are able and willing to Gift Aid your donation.
For further details and updates go to our website:
Or ring Michael Donlan 07864 990941/Bernadette Roberts 07734972897
Rwanda Group Trust 