On February 23rd, 2009, CHF International welcomed US congressional visitors Michele Sumilas, Professional Staff Member of the US House of Representatives’ House Appropriations Committee for Foreign Operations (HACFO) and Shannon Smith, Professional Staff Member of the US Senate’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee. US Ambassador, Stuart Symington, and staff from African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) and Association des Eglises de Pentecotes au Rwanda (ADEPR) also participated in the visit.

The group met first with 17 child heads of household supported by ADEPR for vocational training in tailoring and welding. Ambassador Symington presented the visitors and Pastor Antoine Rutayisire, Executive Secretary of AEE, gathered testimonies from the students. During this visit, Pastor Antoine also thanked the visitors from the US, saying that “Sometimes at the end of the day, you go home tired, not because of the work you’ve done but because of the problems that you were unable to solve. We want to thank you for allowing us to solve (at least) these problems.” CHF/CHAMP currently supports more than 43,000 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) with a variety of services, such as, job skills training and the payment of school fees.

After saying goodbye to the students, the group proceeded to visit the cooperative “Humura Witinya,” located on the main road just outside of Gisenyi. The group became an association for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) which, in 2007, transformed into a business-oriented cooperative. Humura Witinya now includes 166 members and engages in several income-generating activities, including sewing, embroidery, and manufacturing crafts, while continuing to cultivate various crops. The group welcomed the visitors with a lively dance performance and the president explained the history of the cooperative to the guests. Afterwards, visitors had a chance to do some shopping among the many beautiful items on display in Humura Witinya’s shop.

CHF International would like to thank the guests for taking time to visit with these groups and would also like to thank all of the hosts for their warm reception. It is with the continued support from the Government of the United States and other donors that these excellent activities are made possible.

Pictures:

• Women celebrating the visit (JPG)