Councillor set for Africa trip

Lianne Ryan Share

30 July 2008

A CITY councillor is heading off to Rwanda tomorrow (Thursday) to take part in a community rebuilding project.
Coun Hazel Noonan will join a team of more than 100 volunteer doctors, nurses, teachers, solicitors and councillors in Project Umubano 2008, which aims to help the community rebuild their lives since one million of the country's citizens were murdered in 1994's organised genocide.
The 57-year-old grandmother will spend two and a half weeks in Kinyinya, a community where many of the people are orphans, as part of a group led by MP Tobias Ellwood, the shadow minister for tourism.
Together they will help build and decorate a community centre, which will provide a multi-purpose sports area for football, badminton and volleyball.
Coun Noonan said she was really excited about the trip, especially as it would be only her second time flying on a plane. She added the project would be an opportunity to share skills and learn first hand about life in a developing country.
"Many people will remember the horrific genocide that took place in 1994," Coun Noonan told The Observer. "One million innocent civilians lost their lives and those who remain are determined to create a brighter future for themselves.
"The contribution I am hoping to make will be very modest, but I hope the community centre will become the hub of a vibrant new community in Kinyinya," she added.

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