Rwandan Community in Australia Contributes Rwf 4 Million to Dusangire Lunch Campaign

The Rwandan Community in Australia has contributed Rwf 4 million to the Dusangire Lunch (Let Us Share Lunch) campaign, which aims to support the national school feeding program. The handover of the cheque for Rwf 4 million took place on Friday, January 3, 2025, during the Meet and Greet with the Diaspora event held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation headquarters in Kimihurura, Kigali City. Renatus Murindangabo, the President of the Rwandan Community in Queensland, Australia, shared in an interview with Hobe Australia that the idea to contribute to the Dusangire Lunch program stemmed from their desire to support efforts to combat school dropout rates. "Our contribution comes from the collective effort of the entire Rwandan Community in Australia," Renatus explained while elaborating on the source of the Rwf 4 million.

Renatus Murindangabo, the President of the Rwandan Community in Queensland, Australia.

He also encouraged other Rwandan diaspora members to support government programs. "I am mobilizing other members of the diaspora to contribute to the Dusangire Lunch campaign as a meaningful way to reduce school dropout rates in our motherland," he said. Rose Baguma, the Director General of Education Policy and Analysis at the Ministry of Education, who received the cheque, expressed her gratitude to the Rwandan Community in Australia for their contribution and their efforts to inspire others to join the cause. To contribute to #DusangireLunch, dial *182*3*10# and follow the prompts. As little as Rwf 1,000 can feed a child for an entire trimester, while Rwf 3,000 can feed a child for the whole school year. However, contributors are encouraged to give as much as they can. Expanded in 2021, the school feeding program now covers all learners in basic education, from pre-primary to secondary levels, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 600,000 to 4.5 million. Government funding for the program has significantly increased, rising from Rwf 27 billion in 2020/2021 to Rwf 90 billion in 2023/2024. Since its expansion, primary school dropout rates have decreased by 4 percent. Currently, the government covers 90 percent of the school feeding costs per child, with parents contributing approximately Rwf 1,000 per trimester.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb.
Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe commended the Rwandan diaspora's contribution towards Rwanda's development.