Igihe

Category: Diaspora

  • Rwandan Diaspora Urged To Work In Rwanda

    Under patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Job in Rwanda Ltd. and WAF (Wakening Abilities for the Future) organized the first edition of the Rwandan Diaspora Career Day to be held at Serena Hotel on the 19th December 2011.

    With the theme “Inspiring Careers in Rwanda”, different members of the Rwandan Diaspora will get the opportunity to meet and share several professional and knowledge skills.

    Discussions will be based on career perspectives within organizations, analyse the possibilities of collaborating with them as consultants and promote their organization and marketing their product and services.

    In an interview with IGIHE.com, Oria Kije Vande Weghe the Public Relations and Communication officer in WAF also organizer of the event, told us that they had the idea together with Job in Rwanda after realizing that so many Rwandans were not aware that they can work in different Rwandan enterprises.

    “You find so many foreigners called to work in Rwanda whereas there are committed members of the Rwandan Diaspora. We want to show them that they will bring much benefit to their country,” said Oria.

    Oria went on stating that during the event they will share with different boards including RDB and others that will exhibit their work to the sixth province(Diaspora)as commonly refered to.

    “We will share experience from the Diaspora and I know that many will appreciate the Rwandan enterprises work,” stated Oria.

    Oria added that anyone who would like to register for this event that will join many Rwandans, should visit www.rwandajobday.com

  • Canada to Deport Rwanda Genocide Survivor

    A Rwandan genocide survivor who sought asylum in Toronto-Canada is scared of being deported to his home country Rwanda saying his life will be in danger.

    Richard Uwimana has been ordered by Canadian Immigration officials to report to the Border Services Agency at Pearson Airport for a flight to Brussels en route to his home country Rwanda Wednesday next week.

    Uwimana says it’s risky going back because he fears he might be killed by the alleged war criminals he witnessed killing his parents and elder brother during the 1994 massacres in Rwanda.

    “I am still traumatized by the death of my three family members killed in front of me.

    “I can’t eat or sleep, it’s like the tragedy happened yesterday. I don’t think I will live for long when I go back to Rwanda because the people who killed my family will kill me too” he said.

    He also said that some of those that were involved in killing his family were recently released from prison and that when he is sent back, he might be killed since he was a witness.

    The genocide survivor spent 14 years in an orphanage in Rwanda and in 2008 he was granted a visa to travel for a conference in Los Angeles to give a testimony as a genocide survivor.

    “From the conference I travelled to the Peace Bridge in Canada and for three years it has been my home and I feel safe here,” he pointed out

    He was, however, denied refugee status in 2008 Members of Rwandans in Canada are also rallying to stop Uwimana’s deportation claiming he will be killed if he returns to Kigali.

    John Rukumbura of the Rwandan Canadian Association noted, “he will be killed by the people who may want to quiet him if he is sent back .This is not a fair decision taken and he should be allowed to stay.”

    Exclusively speaking to igihe.com Jean Claude Rwahama, the Director Refugee Affair at MIDIMAR noted, “As the Ministry, we cannot say he is a refugee because he had gone to give testimony and according to the security situation in our country today we can’t give value to his claims.”

    “As Rwandans, we now live amicably and both genocide survivors and perpetrators are living together. On top of that he still has his brother and sister who are safely living in Rwanda which makes his claim baseless.”

  • Rwanda Day attracts more than 3000 participants

    More than 3,000 Rwandans in the Diaspora are expected to gather at Chicago’s Hyatt Regency hotel where they will discuss ways to increase their contribution towards their country’s development, participants will also be encouraged on patriotism which is especially gained through owning ones dignity.

    Affirming the turn up Faith Mbabazi who is among the organizers noted that close to 3000 participants have confirmed their attendance. The event dubbed Rwanda Day ends on 11 June with an aim to highlight the country’s impressive growth given that in last two decades the average GDP growth rate rose to 8 percent.

    In this respect, the day’s events are aimed at building social, communal and business relationship among the Diaspora, friends of Rwanda as well as the country’s business community. Networking sessions are expected to facilitate knowledge sharing.

    The gathering will be chaired by President Paul Kagame whom prior to the conference had attended to official duties in the USA. He has so far met with the America’s council of foreign relations and yesterday he chaired the Heads of State and Government’s High level meeting on HIV/AIDS at the United Nations headquarters.

    According to our senior reporter Meilleur Murindabigwi who is closely following the events in Chicago, the gathering is also comprised with several Rwandan Diaspora communities from Europe, Canada and Africa’s Liberia and Nigeria.

    He further pointed out that Rwanda is represented by 144 participants from various sectors including the private sector, musicians, government officials and NGO’s..

    What is more the country’s business community will organize an exhibition aimed to attract investors while instilling the Diaspora about business opportunities in their mother country. Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) for instance will showcase its new product based on financing real estate as way of promoting descent houses, other exhibitors include the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) , Juice company Enterprise Urwibtso amongst others.