PAWA's Great Lakes Programme

Report on the Pedro Arrupe World Association’s assistance to the Great Lakes JRS and proposal for 2003-2004
(extracts from a report sent to PAWA by Fr. Joaquin Ciervide s/j., Regional Director, Great Lakes JRS on June 2003, 30)

• Back in 1999, the Pedro Arrupe World Association showed an interest in helping refugees and people displaced by war in the Great Lakes region.
• Since the Jesuits have been working in this region in the framework of JRS, Mr Eric de Langsdorff, one of PAWA's Vice-Presidents got in touch
  with Father Mateo Aguirre, who was Regional Director at this time.
• Subsequently, in January 2000, the PAWA donated 5,000 USD to Great Lakes JRS: this donation was used to build, furnish and provide books for
  two rooms to be used as reading-library rooms: one in the Congolese refugee camp of Byumba and the other in the Kibuye camp, both in Rwanda.
• In August 2000 Mr Eric de Langsdorff,travelled to Rwanda in order to evaluate needs more closely and draft a new programme of aid to refugees living in these two camps: the outcome of this visit was the current project which is still in place: scholarships for refugee pupils registered in Rwandan secondary schools.
• These schools, although not expensive, are not free: since the refugee families live in extreme poverty, they would be unable to send their children to these boarding schools without outside help.
• The expenses which we cover amount to $125 per student.
• In 2001-2002, there were 323 students from the Byumba and Kibuye refugee camps attending classes in 58 secondary schools in Rwanda; on
   August 2001, PAWA transferred $14,648 to Fr Joachin Ciervide s.j., the present JRS Director in the Great Lakes Region, which enabled him to
   pay for the studies of 118 students.
• In 2002-2003, 318 students are receiving scholarships: 150 from Kibuye camp and 168 from Byumba camp. PAWA sent 8.300 euros in April and another 6.974 euros in September: this total amount of 15.274 euros was worth $14,511which allowed JRS to pay for the studies of 116 students.
• JRS predicts there will be 358 scholarship students in the 2003-2004 school year.
• JRS asks PAWA to continue giving us the same assistance as in 2002, i.e. 15.274 euros: at the current exchange rate of US $ 1.19=1 euro, this would allow JRS to give scholarships to 145 students from refugee families.
• So far, as part of the 2003 Arrupe Dollar Campaign, launched on February 5th, PAWA has already received 5,804 euros. We would like to invite all associations throughout the world to join those - individuals and associations- who have already made their contribution to the 2003 Arrupe Dollar campaign to enable PAWA to continue giving assistance to these students in 2003-2004 on the same basis as 2002.
• Father Ciervide ends his message with these words: “We thank the Association very sincerely for the assistance it gives student from Congolese  refugee families in Rwanda”. PAWA joins Fr Ciervide in expressing its heartfelt thanks to all of you who have already participated - or will in the near future - in this effort of solidarity.