What is Mssada?
FootActive has for many years supported Msaada, a small charity dedicated to supporting the widows, and their dependants, of the 2004 Rwanda genocide during which almost one million people were slaughtered in 100 days. The Msaada mantra is “helping people to help themselves” and so it does not give money but instead it gives selected widows the means to earn money and so to be able to support themselves and their dependants, to send their children to school and to become economically active members of their community.
Focussing on Eastern Rwanda Msaada gives chosen and trained widows a European in-calf Fresian heifer, the animals generally donated by Irish farmers. The cows will yield over 20 litres of milk per day and so earn the widow £2 to £3 a day, taking her well above the UN poverty rate of 80p a day. Female offspring are passed on to another widow and so the herd grows. In addition Msaada supports Rwamagana A secondary school whenever possible.
Msaada employs three Rwandans locally to monitor the performance of the cows so that it can see where additional training is needed and to provide that training. It also has to provide veterinary support when needed. There is therefore a continuing need for money to keep this very successful project going.
How can you help?
The pandemic has meant that all UK fundraising activities have ceased. To help to keep the show on the road we have produced a calendar for 2021 which has a painting by one of our supporters for every month. FootActive hopes that you will join it in supporting Msaada and will buy a calendar by making a donation of at least £10 plus £2 P&P either through our Virgin Money Giving page https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1004291
Or by going to msaada.org and hitting the donate button – please give your name. You can find much more information about Msaada there.
With grateful thanks from FootActive, Msaada and from the widows of Rwanda.
