The purpose of the link is:

• to build a relationship between your church and a community in Rwanda and develop friendship and partnership between the two groups
• to facilitate a structured and planned approach to the support of the community
  
• to provide opportunities for the church to visit and participate in the life of the community
  
• to provide opportunities for individual sponsorship between church members and Rwandans

Key guidelines for the link are:

1. A visit by members/representatives of the church to prospective community. If the community is new then at this point the issue of support through funding projects is not raised with the community. The relationship between Solace and the community is built on evangelism, healing, friendship and support. The community must come together out of fellowship and mutual support before funded projects are broached. If the community is established then the issue of funded projects can be raised after consultation with Solace.
   
   
2. An assessment of needs with a subsequent proposal for an integrated development project will be undertaken.
   
   
3. A link person between the church and Comfort Rwanda is appointed to facilitate and channel communication. Comfort Rwanda, the link person and Solace Ministries will seek to develop friendship, understanding and partnership between the two groups.
   
   
4. The church indicates the level of support they feel able to aim for and the period for which this applies to.
   
   
5. Comfort Rwanda indicates whether some aspects of the project can receive support from general or other funds.
   
   
6. Solace makes the appropriate changes to the proposal to take account of the support available.
   
   
7. The church raises the funds and these are given 100% to the community project.
   
   
8. The church is provided with the opportunity to visit the community when members are visiting Rwanda. Efforts will be made to see if it is possible to stay overnight within homes in the community.
   
   
9. The church may work with Solace to provide young people’s camps for the community. The age group is normally 13-25, takes place in April, July or Nov-Dec. and involves testimonies, preaching, trauma healing and games, play and drama. They are usually themed with typical themes being “You are children of God”, “Let no-one despise your youth”, “growing up in all things into Christ”, “Seek first the Kingdom of God”.
   
   
10. The link person may forward letters of encouragement to the community from the church to Comfort Rwanda. Solace will translate and forward such letters and encourage the community leaders or other group members to write back. Comfort Rwanda can translate Kinyarwandan letters if this saves administrative costs for Solace.
    
    
11. To facilitate fund-raising the church may set up sponsorship schemes. These may be:
    

• SOS (Sponsor an Orphan or Survivor). In this case the normal guidelines for SOS will be followed.
  
• Sponsor a cow. In this case the recipient of the cow should be identified and a photo given to the church. No further administrative communication needed after that.
  
• Sponsor a goat/pig/hen etc. In this case the recipient does not need identified but a couple of photographs of the animals in the community should be sent for each species.
  
• Other options such a “sponsor a brick” , “sponsor a fruit tree”, etc which would not need any admin at the Rwandan end.
  

Interested? - email enquiry@comfortrwanda.org.uk