KIGALI, Rwanda, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Rwanda First Lady Jeannette Kagame, who is visiting United States, has called on the international community to pay attention to the social injustices occurring in different places.
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"It is my hope that we can aspire to a world where we are all attentive and mindful of the social injustices that occur around us," Mrs. Kagame said.
The First Lady made the remarks on Friday evening at the Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta-Georgia to a packed audience of faculty, students and policy advocates.
The First Lady, with President Paul Kagame, was in the United States for Rwanda Day, an event that brings together Rwandans living in North America and friends of Rwanda. More than 3000 delegates attended the annual event.
In her speech, Mrs. Kagame said her dream is to see a world that is "more just, more humane and … a better home for all of us."
She spoke about Rwanda's troubled past and how the country managed to rebuild from scratch. "What our country experienced is beyond human comprehension," she said. What happened in Rwanda is nothing else but a definition of humans losing "all notions of sanity." "Something went terribly wrong for families, doctors, the church and the state to abandon their responsibilities."
In 1994, poverty levels were at 77%, now it's 45%. "We want to take it down further to 30% in the next few years and eventually to zero," she said.
Today, Rwanda finances 60% of its budget, up from a mere 15% 14 years ago. "Our institutions are undergoing constant reforms, to consolidate the good progress we have made," said Kagame.
The First Lady is personally involved in several social projects through the nonprofit organization, IMBUTO Foundation, which she established to nurture Rwanda's youths.
Imbuto, meaning a seed, provides platforms for youth to develop critical skills and the right mindset to solve challenges.
Mrs. Kagame also co-founded the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) in 2002 and served as its president from 2004 to 2006.
In 2010, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa from Oklahoma Christian University for her global effort to fight HIV/AIDS and poverty. She is also a Special Representative for World Food Program (WFP) on Child Nutrition.
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