Kigali Marriott Hotel in Rwf10 million fundraising drive to support vulnerable children

The funds are being raised through selling the T-shirts with each being sold at Rwf10,000.

The campaign dubbed “Road to Awareness” was launched Saturday in Kigali with the selling of T-shirts first and will run till end of September. The hotel’s staff and children under the care of SOS Rwanda started the walk from the Kigali Marriott walking around the city and ended back at the hotel.

The campaign is part of Marriott International’s corporate social responsibility in the communities it has presence and the world’s giant hotel brand has for the years been in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages International.

Rex A.G. Nijhof, Kigali Marriott’s General Manager, said Kigali Marriott is passionate about supporting the vulnerable especially children.

“As Marriott, we have this motto ‘Serve 360’ to do good in every direction, that is giving back to the communities we are operating. With this walk today under the title ‘Road to Awareness,’ we are supporting an initiative in the Middle-East and Africa region. Our partner today is SOS Children’s Villages; we have a great partnership to support children in the villages,” he said.

Mr. Nijhof thanked all people with a caring heart and encouraged everyone to offer their contribution through buying a T-shirt from the hotel even after the event.

SOS Rwanda’s Executive Director, John Gakwaya appreciated Marriott’s support, saying the charity takes care of children but it has not its own assets to cater for them.

“This is a very important support. It is important to care for children because there are even things we can’t afford with money; so, a loving heart towards children is important in addition to the material support,” he said.

Gakwaya urged the general public to love supporting the vulnerable, saying that giving out blesses the receiver and donor at the same time.

At the launch, Kigali Marriot Hotel sold at least 400 T-shirts out of 1,000 pieces that are targeted to be sold out in this campaign to raise Rwf10 million. The remaining 600 T-shirts are being sold from the hotel’s premises and all the money will be handed to SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda.