In the spirit of the Ramadhan festive season, MTN Rwanda, on Wednesday, extended a financial package of Rwf7.6 million to the Foundation for the Youth Future, a n Islamic non-governmental organisation.
Patrick Uwizeye, the general manager in-charge of Business Risk Management at MTN, said the money will support activities of several Muslim cooperatives.
Uwizeye added that MTN Rwanda has been supporting cooperatives and vulnerable groups for the last four years from the same Muslim group, enabling them to be economically empowered.
“Our contribution to economic empowerment through capacity building is carried out through 90 cooperatives across the country,” Uwizeye said.
The cheque was handed to the vice Mufti, Sheikh Omar Sulaiman Iyakaremye, who was accompanied by Haridi Ntawiha, the president of the organisation, at the MTN Rwanda offices in Nyarutarama.
Sheikh Iyakaremye commended MTN for their initiative that will go toward economic empowerment of the Muslim community.
He advised the cooperatives to effectively utilise the money that had been given to them, such that it can benefit all of them.
Sheikh Iyakaremye also called for unity among the Muslims and urged them to support the country’s poverty eradication programmes.
Hadijah Munyabarenzi, a beneficiary and also the vice president of Usalama cooperative in Gikondo Magerwa, said MTN had helped them a lot through financial support which has enhanced their growth and development.
“This money will help us in livestock farming because we were not doing it well like we wanted, though we bought land in the previous donation. So we are going to share and use it in businesses till we get enough money to build a kraal for our cows.” Munyabarenzi said.
By Sarah Kwihangana & Kayiranga Massai, The New Times