By Perrilee Pizzini | Project Leader
Your contributions to the fundraiser for the Pygmies during the Covid-19 shutdown of Rwanda helped more people than you can imagine survive four very difficult months.
The village people regard themselves as one family living together and thus do not routinely practice social distancing or wear masks. Yet, this photo shows them practicing distancing at the time of the first food delivery in early April. The community of Pygmies have had food through these difficult times because of your generosity, and they send you their profound thanks.
Members of the community shared their food with neighbors, who also had nothing to eat. This generosity was repaid when the same neighbors later gave them sweet potato seedlings, enabling the Pygmies to plant their own field of potatoes. The harvest in August and September supplied additional food to the Cyaruzinge community. Such sharing in times of need represents the best in humanity—made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you!
We gave a second delivery of food the first week of June. The people received an enriched grain, Posho also known locally as Sawa, Beans, Cooking Oil and some Soap per household. As you can see in the photo above they were very excited and sang a song of gratitude.
When the relatives who live in another Pygmy community (one who does not have a benefactor) heard of this, they asked if we could give them some food, too. We did supply them as we could in April. Our field manager spoke with the local government to report that we had no more food to give that community. Because we had created a delivery route to that community the government agency was able to receive further food donations coordinated through local officials; and thus, the giving chain extended even further, because of our generous donors.
Each delivery was approximately 3.7 metric tons of food supplies. The local government distribution came through with 3 kg of posho per Cyaruzinge family between when PSA was able to make the food deliveries. A third food delivery was given on July 13, without cooking oil or soap, as they had received both from the government's contribution.
All of this work benefitted hundreds of families because of the generosity given to this request for help.
We are happy to report that the fundraiser was successful!
Deaths from starvation caused by COVID shutdowns have been prevented. The people are farming, doing day labor, and are again selling goods and services.
Still, the need for nutrition continues in the community. PSA is looking into serving a hot breakfast for school kids at the new Early Childhood Development Center in 2021.
Thank You
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