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Rwandan woman gives back to homeland
A RWANDAN woman living in Hailsham is one of the driving forces behind a new £50,000 project to bring better education and healthcare to the village where she grew up.
Jacqueline Turner was born in the central African country but now lives in Meadow Road with her husband Martyn.
She has helped builder Malcolm Clear, from Chalvington, raise more than 50,000 to build and kit out a community centre for the 3,000 villagers in Musenyi.
It has three classrooms, a pharmacy, clinic and shop and was officially opened in front of local dignatries, including Rwandan government officials, on October 31. It even has the personal backing of the president, Paul Kagame.
Jacqueline said she had noticed how people took things for granted in the UK - but in her home country, the community centre was already having a big impact.
She said, "It is good to see how something like this can make such a big difference."
Rwanda has come a long way since the genocide of 1994, when an estimated 800,000 people were killed and millions fled the violence.
Those returning have been given small plots of land, but it is not enough to live on - which is where the new community centre comes in.
The first hole was dug in May 2008 and it was completed earlier this year. It was hoped Mr Kagame himself would open it, but he was called away to a meeting in England instead.
However, the local mayor and MP, the governor of the Eastern Province and the British Ambassador to Rwanda, Nick Cannon, were all there to see Malcolm's dream being realised.
Malcolm said Jacqueline's experience working for the Rwandan government was vital to making the project a success.
He said, "She worked for the Department for Information before she came to England so she knows a lot of the people, including who to speak to in the different ministries.
"We've been told by the government that this idea can be replicated all over the country, using aid money the UK gives to Rwanda.
"The long-term plan is to replace the mud huts with brick bungalows with their own sanitation, electricity and running water."
The builder, who runs CRB Contractors in Eastbourne, first visited Rwanda in 2006 and 'fell in love with the place'.
He said, "It's got a wonderful climate - it's all green, with beautiful grasslands.
"The people are beautiful as well. It's very nice to go to a place for the first time and be made to feel so welcome.
"Because they don't have much, they're so grateful for the for the tiniest things.
Malcolm told the Gazette friends and businesses had been very generous with their support.
He said, "People have been really happy to help. We've got computers over there now for the school but we still need people's help.
"We're looking for school equipment - we've got to build some more desks for the children. We also need water harvesting equipment."
For more information on Malcolm and Jacqueline's Rwanda project, or to offer equipment or financial support, visit www.anewbeginningrwanda.org, or call either Malcolm on 07973 830218 or Jacqueline on 07810 148771.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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