Africa > East Africa > Rwanda > Rwanda: I&M Bank Gives Facelift to Survivor's Home

Rwanda: Rwanda: I&M Bank Gives Facelift to Survivor's Home

2016/04/20

i&M Bank refurbished a home of an 8-year-old widow who is a genocide survivor in Buhoro cell of Musambira sector in Kamonyi district.

Virginie Mukarubega's home was painted and installed with solar energy, rainwater harvesting tank, furniture and foodstuff. "I am very happy to get this home renovated. I used to buy candles, torches or kerosene lamps for lighting but would instantly run short of funds. We have been borrowing chairs from neighbours at the same time as we get any visitors. It was like a shame," she said.

The renovation is part of the bank's corporate social responsibility activities. Since 2014, i&M Bank has been in partnership with AEGIS Trust Rwanda to honour genocide victims, helping survivors to rebuild their lives, inclunding sensitisation and confronting prejudices that can lead to genocide.

The bank as well held a night vigil at Kigali Genocide Memorial to commemorate its staff members who were killed during 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. Genocide researcher, Tom Ndahiro, told members that; "companies should invest in what develops people rather than what destroys their evolution. They should replace the lost reputation during genocide". Robin Bairstow, i&M's managing director, said that over the last few years, the bank has offered internship and employment opportunities to children of their ex-staff and that five of them are presently part of the bank team. "We will continue to support survivors inclunding helping in documentation, research and advocacy to preserve the genocide history," he said. "We have to stand up so that what happened in 1994 at no time happens again, neither in Rwanda nor elsewhere in the world," he added.

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