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Keeping Memories: The Rwandan Community in the UK

rYico has recently secured a major grant of £48 000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to run a ground-breaking two year project focussed on the preservation of memories from Rwandans living in the UK and commemorating the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

We are currently in the process of collecting Oral Histories from ten people from the UK Rwandan community based in Brighton, London and Coventry. The material that we collect will be collated in a fantastic interactive exhibition which will be shown in many locations both locally and nationally, as well as a full colour book and website.

We will also be running community workshops as well as a series of events to publicise and raise funds for the project. The grant has enabled us to take on eight new volunteers, as well as a project co-ordinator. Watch this space for further details and upcoming project events!

If you have any queries regarding this project please contact Dan Godshaw, Project Coordinator on info@ryico.org.

How taking a photo resulted in a donation

Many thanks to Ole, who recently made a donation to rYico after a photo that she took of Kigali was printed in a book by a publisher. See Ole's picture here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oledoe/264341670/in/set-72157601296173442


rYico fundraising gig back on

We have now rescheduled the AfroConnect music event that was unfortunately cancelled in December due to the heavy snow. The event will be held at the Fortune of War and will feature two live bands, including Pollito Boogaloo and DJs from Mr Bongo Soundsystem and Catskills Records as well as an auction on prizes that have been donated by local businesses.

Gabriella Oakley joins rYico through Vodafone World of Difference programme

rYico is one of 500 organisations across the UK to be selected for this year's Vodafone World of Difference grant. The programme provides rYico with funding to employ a full-time member of staff for two months from March - May 2011. rYico's selected candidate is Gabriella Oakley and we're delighted to have her on board.

Gabriella will become rYico’s only member of staff and work for two months as a business development manager. Her goal is to make the organisation more sustainable.

To find out more about the programme, please visit: http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/news/archives/1135.

To follow Gabriella's blog during her time with rYico, visit: http://worldofdifference.vodafone.co.uk/blogs/gabriella-oakley/.


Craggs Sisters Conquer Hadrian's Wall

Laura and Anna Craggs raised over £1,300 for rYico this month by walking the entire length of Hadrian’s wall in just 5 days.

startPrimary school teacher Anna from Durham said: ”The money’s still coming in so it could get even higher.” The two sisters braved bad weather and painful blisters to complete their sponsered walk on Friday 13th August 2010. The money they raised in donations from family and friends will be used at Centre Marembo.

N.G.O worker Laura Craggs from Brighton, has been a volunteer with rYico for three and half years and is currently a trustee of the charity. Laura told us it was great to “get out in the open air for a few days, do some real walking and also to raise some unrestricted money for rYico.”

Walking in harsh weather from Bowness on Solway in the west of England, to Wallsend near the east coast the two sisters said “the thought of having a warm bed in the evenings to look forward to kept us going...we saw a lot of rain and Anna had some impressive blisters!".

Anna reported that "On day one it became apparent that my walking boots were no longer waterproof. As the weather got worse, my feet got wetter and the blisters got bigger. It got so bad that I actually wore flip flops for the final 5 miles of the walk".

Both of the sisters are keen walkers in their spare time and had support along the way from their parents. Anna’s boyfriend Matty came and met them at the end of their long walk with some warm jumpers and towels.

Ryico’s verdict: AWESOME!

Click here to visit their Justgiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/LauraandAnnaCraggs

16th Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda

April 7th 2010 marked the 16th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. A commemoration organised by the Rwandan High Commission took place in London. This year the commemoration highlighted the challenges of managing trauma resulting from the tragic genocide, captured by the theme "let us commemorate the Genocide against Tutsi by continuing to combine efforts to manage trauma". The West Midlands Rwandese Community Association held a commemoration on 10th April in Birmingham.


Family Planning Necklace Project

Over recent months the beading group at Centre Marembo has been developing a range of necklaces that are specifically designed as a simple family planning method. The beads represent a womans monthly cycle and help women to track the days and their fertility.

The idea was brought to the centre by a doctor from Austria who has set up a programme called AKTION REGAN. She has been working closely with Centre Marembo and national family planning bodies in Rwanda and we are delighted to report that Centre Marembo has been commissioned to produce and market the necklaces in Rwanda.

This is a great opportunity for the beading group and it is hope that it will also have a positive impact on women and families in Rwanda and beyond.


Observations from Rwanda

Florah Keller-Cooper, a UK volunteer working at Centre Marembo, has shared her thoughts on working at Centre Marembo and her experience living in Rwanda. Click here to read her account.


New resident at the Umugongo House

Claude has experienced a traumatic ordeal losing family members and living on the streets. Click here to read the story of Claude, a new addition to the Umugongo House.


15th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide

7th April 2009 marked the 15th Anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. People around the world are remembering the million people who were killed as well as those that survived the horrific 100 days of massacres and live today with the memories and pain.

'Rwanda after Genocide: A Refection and Commemoration 15 years on'

RYICO held a commemoration in Brighton on 9th July in Brighton. The programme included some reflections from rYico and a talk from a guest speaker representing the All Party Parlaimentary Group on the Great Lakes Region and Genocide Prevention (tbc). We also heard from JustSing! choir and guest will be invited to light a candle for Rwanda.

Commemoration - Official Event of the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda

Tues 7th April, 3pm at the Royal Horse Guard Hotel, 2 Whitehall Court The Role of the West in Rwanda's Genocide.

Light a Candle for Rwanda

The Aegis Trust are asking people to light a Candle of Hope to show support for the future of people in Rwanda.

Click here to Light a Candle for Rwanda and send a message of hope.


rYico trustee's 'big bike ride'

Anna Chippendale, rYico trustee, and Mark Williams, rYico's designer, cycled 60 miles at the weekend to raise funds for rYico.

Thank you to everyone that sponsored them!


Views from Centre Marembo - News from Philip Rushworth's volunteer placement at CM

Philip has been working at Centre Marembo for around 4 weeks. We are please to share his feedback on his experiences:

25 July 2009

‘Centre Marembo is a home, a place for work and a meeting place; it is everything it is supposed to be. The centre is a refuge, which from what I have seen, gives young people a base to discuss issues relevant to them, learn skills, make friends and provide a connection for their ambitions and future.I was first struck by the activity, the busy card-makers, tailors and rooms filled with attentive students.

My work at Centre Marembo is based around teaching English, an opportunity many in modern Rwanda need but simply don’t have access to. My anxieties as I prepared the first class quickly disappeared. After doing our first ‘theatre’, amongst the smiles and laughter I realised it would be a lot of fun. The students are hard-working (always arriving at the centre before I do!) and inquisitive, not always on the subject of English!

One of the largest benefits of Centre Marembo is its flexibility and support. I am currently planning a 'Centre Marembo show'.

Lunch time at the centre is a chance to talk to the staff, learn new Kinyarwanda words and make plans. I have just started working with the boys at Umogongo house; on my first visit after shy silences we were soon reciting the one song that everyone in Rwanda knows “Buri muntu akeneye umufasha …mu buzima”.

I am looking forward to activities and long conversations about Manchester United’s new acquisitions. I combine work at Centre Marembo with a newspaper internship and I have the opportunity to meet and see many different aspects of Kigali. One thing that I think is unique is the order of this lively city. Road rules are (normally) adhered to, crime seems unimaginable and people watch dusty football matches in their finest clothes. Added to this is an unfailing friendliness. Elsewhere in Rwanda this isn’t necessarily the case, except the people’s kindness.

The centre genuinely works for the young people, its role and benefits were clear as soon as I arrived and working with the organisation and being in Rwanda provides a great opportunity for volunteers.

 

Brighton festival Open House - '1001 Faces'

During May 2009 Studio 106 have a new exhibition as part of the Brighton Festival Open Houses including an interactive, communal artwork in aid of rYico.

Join the exhibition by creating face on an A5 piece of paper or card. Paint it, draw it, stick it, stitch it and bring it in! All portraits are for sale with proceeds going to rYico. Click here for more details.

Thank you to Studio 106 for supporting rYico.


The Role of the West in Rwanda's Genocide - Lecture by Linda Melvern

On 6th May RYICO organised a lecture by Linda Melvern, widely published investigative journalist, author, honorary professor and expert on the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Based on the new edition of her book A People Betrayed: the Role of the West in Rwanda's Genocide which is due out on 17th July, Linda addressed the ongoing impact of the 1948 Genocide Convention and the shock waves Rwanda caused around the world.

See http://www.lindamelvern.com/bio.htm for more information.

To veiw the video or podcast of the lecture, please click here.

Sellers on eBay can now donate to charity

Donate a % of your sales to charity directly through eBay!

When you’re selling, the real beauty of eBay for Charity is that there’s something for everyone - yourself included. You decide exactly what percentage of your final selling price you’d like to give to charity (that’s good causes sorted), and what percentage you’d like for yourself (that’s you sorted). for more informtion visit: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/ebayforcharity/sell.html


Mark Allison walks the Pennine Way for RYICO

On Sunday 10th, May Mark Allison successfully conquered the first half of the Pennine Way, a stretch of approximately 125 miles from Edale in Derbyshire to Bowes in County Durham.

Many thanks to Mark for raising £600 for rYico!

You can still sponsor Mark by visiting Justgiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/mark_allison

Film trainers graduate!

A group of ten young film and media students at Centre Marembo have graduated this month in film training and are now qualified to train others in filmmaking. An award ceremony was hosted at Centre Marembo with guests of honour including the Director General of Culture for the Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Executive Secretary of the Gasabo District.

This is the second group to graduate in the filmmaking and media group which has been running at centre Marembo for seven months thanks to Purple Field Productions (PFP) who conceived the project. The project focuses on training trainers in filmmaking and editing. The graduates will go on to train others at Centre Marembo in the art of filmmaking and the long term aim of the group is to generate income and be self sustaining. For more information about PFP, please click here.


Re-launch of Journal and Drop-In projects

Thanks to project funding from Bottletop and UIA Charitable Foundation, rYico have been able to re-launch two of it's most popular projects. The Youth Journal provides advice and information to young people on matter relating to health, relationships and wellbeing.

Through the journal we have been able to advertise the weekly drop-in service for street children. This is a weekly facility at Centre Marembo for young people who are living and working on the streets of Kigali.

Both projects are already proving to be beneficial for young people in Kigali. Our long term aim is that by accessing this information, young people will be more aware of the choices available to them and therefore able to make informed decisions about their lives.


Natalie runs for rYico

Contratulations to Natalie Black, rYico's new Chair of the board of trustees, who completed the 10K Nike Human Race and raised £200 for rYico.

Thank you Natalie!


HAPPY RWANDA PARTY July 2008

Thank you to Sati Nagra, Celine Lawrence and Becky Wooton for organising a fundraising night in aid of rYico's CM Appeal.

The event, called HAPPY RWANDA, took place on Friday 25th July 08 at the Doghouse in Kennington, London.

The event was an exciting mixture of music and stand up. Thank you to everyone that came along and helped to raise funds for Centre Marembo!!

The group have also organised a work sponsored dress down day at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP.

Thank you for your support!

You can donate via their fundraising page: http://www.justgiving.com/happyrwanda.

 


Bank Holiday weekend Britball fun! August 2008

Thanks to Paul and Sarah Stenning who are taking part in the Britballrun again this year in aid of rYico. Click here to find out more about the event taking place on bank holiday weekend.


Mayday Mayhem with Neneh Cherry as special Guest Thursday, 1st May 2008

The Mayday fundraising gig was a great success.

rYico would like to extend a massive thank you to the many many people who worked hard to create a fantastic night! Extra special thanks to Daisy and her team for their ralentless efforts!!

We really appreciate everyone's support including the bands and performers, Concorde2, Blanche House, and want to thank you for raising vital funds for Centre Marembo.

Photo by CJ.


rYico Presents “Twibuke” ­ “Let Us Remember” Tuesday, 8th April, 6:45pm

You are invited to rYico's tribute evening to commemorate the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The evening will include an exhibition of photography of rYico’s work at Centre Marembo and crafts from a Rwandan womens cooperative “Gayaha Links.”

The evening will provide an opportunity to learn more about the events leading up to the genocide, pay tribute to those who were lost and support those who are still dealing with the after affects.

A viewing of the dramatic film by Rwandan filmmaker Eric Kabera, who witnessed the genocide. 100 Days is a story of love and betrayal. While it is a fictional account of a family in the Kibuye province of Rwanda, it is set among the backdrop of actual events surrounding the genocide and contains actual footage from 1994.

** Please Note: This film is not rated. Due to the issues explored and subject matter rYico does not recommend it for children under the age of 14.**

Venue: The Conference Room, 5th Floor, Community Base, Queens Road, Brighton

Doors open: 6:45pm

Admission free


Centre Marembo Appeal Progress

rYico is appealing for funds to build its own youth resource centre in Kigali.

Progress is going well and thank you to those of you who have supported us so far.

Click here for more information about the appeal.


'Raise the Roof For Rwanda' 18th April, 8pm. The Victory Inn, Duke St, Brighton

Nell Power, a rYico supporter that visited Centre Marembo last year, is organising an event at The Victory Inn in Brighton to raise money for rYico and the Centre Marembo Appeal.

We hope to see you there, but if you can't make this event but still want to contribute to this project please visit her Justgiving page and donate whatever you can: http://www.justgiving.com/raisetheroof4rwanda.


Aspira Fund supports Reintegration Programme

rYico would like to thank the Aspira Fund and Andy Rouse for supporting a programme to facilitate re-integration of former street children that are currently supported by Centre Marembo back into their rural areas of Rwanda.

There are about 7000 children living on the streets in Kigali, the majority of whom come to the city from rural areas. It has not been possible in all cases to ascertain the reasons why the children have left the rural areas for the city but it can broadly be assumed that children see more opportunity for survival in the city. However, this is often not the case and street children are often ostracised by society, are seen as a hindrance and are extremely vulnerable to exploitation. Having spent 1 year at Centre Marembo, many now are expressing a desire to be reunited with their families and feel in a more empowered position to and bridge relationships and contribute to their communities.

With funding from the Aspira Fund rYico is now able to carry out a re-integration program which is enabling the 28 former street children to be reunited with their families in their rural communities.

News & Events Archive

Click on links below for previous news:

2007

2006

2005


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