{Close to three hundred participants in the Friends of Rwanda Association (FORA) meet have gathered at Laguna Town Hall located on 3020 Renwick Ave, Elk Grove, California, USA, an event attended by Rwandan Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana who founded the association.}
Both Southern and Northern California Diaspora attended the event, some traveling all the way from Los Angels California to Sacramento to attend the event. The Leadership of the US Diaspora was represented by US Rwandan Diaspora President Gaetan Gatete.
FORA was founded after the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. The purpose of the annual fundraisers is to support Mayaga Vocational School started after the genocide, and took in many orphaned children to teach them vocational skills.
From the partnership that was born between Mayaga Vocational School and FORA, the school has been able to purchase needed equipment for students involved in learning various skills that include; sewing, carpentry, masonry and welding.
“The purpose of our annual fundraising is to be able to support our partners at Mayaga Vocational School which was started after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi to take care of the welfare for orphaned children. With our support the school has been able to purchase equipment’s they need and to expand. Graduating students earn lifelong skills that enable them to get jobs and break the cycle of poverty. Our support provides hopes and dreams to these young people, and I thank everyone who is able to donate to this worthy cause,” said Mr Vicent Mugabo the president of FORA at the event.
In her Keynote Speech, Her Excellency Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana thanked the audience for a 20 year commitment to FORA. In a detailed speech she highlighted the changes that have been made in Rwanda for the last 21 years in social, economic and political transformation.
FORA as a not for profit organization has made big progress for the last 20 years, impacting lives of the young generation in Mayaga.
The event which took place on 21st November,2015 was also attended by Aurore Kayibanda Mutesi – Miss Rwanda 2012.
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