Over 100 volunteers will travel to Rwanda on Saturday July 26th and return on August 10th 2008. The volunteers will work on a range of social action projects, such as teaching English, private sector development, teaching business, creating a health project and a legal project. The projects are all designed to leave a lasting impact on the country, which is the 20th poorest country in the world.
Harriett Baldwin will be working on a private sector project, helping the fledgling Rwandan stock market attract overseas investment. She will also visit a sustainable Rwandan microfinance bank started by a charity called Opportunity International, using money raised by Harriett and other donors from JPMorgan, her previous employer.
Harriett Baldwin said, "I am really excited about this opportunity to make a difference, however small, to a developing country that is working so hard to help itself recover from the terrible genocide of 1994. The projects I will be working on use some of my private sector business and investment experience and contacts. If poor countries are to succeed in their development goals, building a sustainable private sector through a range of activities like microfinance and business education must be part of the answer.
If there are any schools or churches here in Worcestershire that already have established links with Rwanda, please can they get in touch."