RWANDA GROUP TRUST
(Patron Bishop Paul Swarbrick)
February 2026
Dear All,
Welcome to our first Newsletter of 2026.
Our quarterly Trustee Meeting was held as always, in St. Anthony’s Padua Room on Saturday, 24th January.
Trustees present: Michael Donlan, Mark Ibison, Myra Gregory, Judith Potts, Clare Spicer, Veronica Sanders and me, Bernadette Roberts.
In November, due to an extra very generous donation, we were able to send £3,000 to each of our 4 groups in Rwanda.
Fr. Placide in Cyangugu supported 10 students with Education; 178 families with food and 1 family with Housing.
He writes:
‘Dear friends in RGT/UK,
We greet you and wish you a prosperous New Year in 2026. We greatly appreciate your support throughout the successful year of 2025. Your assistance has significantly benefitted the sick, the needy, and students in need of help, not to mention the livestock farming project.
As we close out the year, we must share that the conditions in our country have not been favorable, as we have been affected by drought, resulting in the destruction of crops we had planted. Since September 2025, there has been a lack of rainfall, leading to crop failure in the fields. The western and eastern regions have been hit hardest, causing some communities to flee their homes. The government is doing its best to provide food assistance to the affected population, but it remains a struggle, and not everyone is receiving help.
This is why we have allocated a significant portion of the funds you provided to purchase food for those in need. I am sending you photos showing the extent of the crop damage in the fields, and we would like to take this opportunity to ask for your continued support during these challenging times.
This January, we have experienced minimal rainfall, which has had little impact since the crops have already been ruined. Please keep us in your prayers during this difficult period. May God bless you. Sincerely, Fr. Placide RGT Cyangugu.’
Petronille in Gikongoro supported 26 students. ‘The average cost of secondary school fees and school materials in boarding schools is approximately 120,000 RWF per student. RGT Gikongoro contributes 60,000 RWF per student for 16 boarding secondary school students (60,000 x 16).
In addition, RGT Gikongoro provides 15,000 RWF per child to support primary school students with shoes, uniforms and school materials (10×15,000 RWF).
Support to vulnerable groups:
· Twenty-five (25) indigent households: 35,000 RWF per family (25 x 35,000 RWF)
· Fifteen (15) people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS: 35,000 RWF per person (15 x 35,000 RWF)
· Twenty (20) people with chronic mental illness: 35,000 RWF per person (20 x 35,000 RWF)
· School feeding for twelve (12) former street children in primary school: 6,200 RWF per child (12 x 6,200 RWF)
Health support:
· Drugs and palliative care for six (6) people with cancer: 45,000 RWF per person (6 x 45,000 RWF)
· Community health insurance for five (5) families with nineteen (19) members:
Two (2) families with elderly persons (4 members)
Three (3) families with children (15 members)
Contribution: 3,000 RWF per member (19 x 3,000 RWF )’
750,000 RWF was spent on a ‘Special Project’
‘Project name: Small scale project for buying, storing and selling beans
Beneficiaries: People recovering from mental illness who are regularly followed up by Sovu Health Center
Project description: This small project involves purchasing fresh beans, drying them and storing them during the harvest season, and selling the dried beans when market demand and prices are more favorable. The project aims to generate income while supporting social and economic reintegration of the beneficiaries.’
1,200,000 RWF has supported another project:
‘Pig farming support
Objective: Improve household income and food security among indigent households and people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Beneficiaries:
· Twenty-five (25) pigs provided to indigent households
· Fifteen (15) pigs provided to people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS
Sustainability:
Profits from selling piglets will be reinvested into feed, veterinary care, and farm improvement to ensure long-term productivity and income generation.’
Fr. Fabien in Nyundo spent £1,500 on Education for 35 students; Food and clothing for 105 people; Health Care for 113 people; Housing for 1 person. With the additional £1,500 he provided for Food; Small Business; Housing Rental; Livestock Farming; Medical Care.
He writes: ‘As you see, the increase in the tranche has enabled us to increase the amount of school fee assistance given to each beneficiary. Thanks to anonymous donation that have helped people with permanent disability, we have purchased food for large families in need following heavy rainfall. The mutual health insurance scheme even allows poor people to access medical care. RGT has provided 113 people the peace of mind of knowing that for one year, the mutual health insurance scheme will be there to help them. Finaly, a family whose house was swept away by the landslide received a contribution to purchase a new plot of land were they can settle.
We are ending this year with gratitude, along with all those people who have seen their situation improve. Thankyou from the bottom of our hearts for efforts to make us all happy. Merry Christmas and fruitful year.’
Beatrice in Kigali helped 50 students with Education. ‘Funds used to contribute to school fees of term 1 of school academic year 2025-2026 in terms of 100000 per student.’ She also helped 4 children with food and clothing. ‘Funds used for buying food to malnourished children of Kabuga Health Center.’
FEBRUARY’S FUNDING
Again, we have been able to send £3,000 to each of our 4 groups. As we can see from the reports received this extra money has made a tremendous impact on many people’s lives.
FUNDRAISING
Our Annual Christmas Appeal, including Gift Aid, raised £1,500.
Special thanks go to Theresa Swan for her very generous donations in memory of her recently deceased father, Deacon Bill Adams. Bill was a Deacon at St. Wilfrid’s church for many years and organised many Lourdes Pilgrimages. He was well loved.
Thankyou too to Newman College who donated £163 from the proceeds of their Christmas Carol Concert.
Our most recent donation was from the proceeds of Our Lady and St. Edward’s monthly Parish Lunch. We received a wonderful £345! Thankyou Emma and Frank for all your hard work.
Last Year our weekly Keep Fit classes raised £2,148.
Table Top Sales made over £3,100
Many thanks to all who support all of these events.
OUR NEXT TABLE TOP SALE IS SATURDAY 21ST FEBRUARY, 10A.M. UNTIL 1P.M., IN ST. ANTHONY’S ANNEXE. See attached poster for details of how to book a table or to come along and enjoy.
Mark has a plan for a future sponsored event. More information on that later.
STOP PRESS: IN 2013 WE HAD RAISED AN AMAZING 1 MILLION POUNDS. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, WE ARE NOW VERY CLOSE TO ONE AND A HALF MILLION!! We hope to be celebrating that in the near future.
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:
1. To a Trustee
2. Bank Transfer via BACS to our Santander Bank a/c:
Rwanda Group Trust
Sort Code: 09-01-29
A/C No. 08478395
3. 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:
http://www.rwandagrouptrust.org
Or ring Michael Donlan 07864 990941/Bernadette Roberts 07734972897
Rwanda Group Trust 