THE RWANDA PROJECT

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to offer you an opportunity to join the graduate counseling students of Long Island University as they plan for a travel abroad course to be experienced in Rwanda and Kenya this summer. The students will visit the country of Rwanda for a week and will work in the Kigali Mental Health Institute. They will meet with the Directors there and learn about:  How Mental Health Services are provided under challenging conditions. They will interview survivors of the genocide and learn about their experiences, as well as, try to understand their resilience and coping skills. The students will also visit the genocide museums and one orphanage. After leaving Rwanda they will visit Kenya for a three days tour of the Massai Mara Safari.

In preparation for the trip the students are engaging in securing gifts of school supplies, toys, and children clothes, etc, which we intend to take to the children there. We are also fund raising to sponsor a Mental Health Clinic to be established in the capital city, Kigali in order to provide support to many individuals and families who suffer post trauma from the experience of the genocide atrocity.

The student who makes the contact with your business or institution is responsible to collect any gifts that are contributed. Checks may be made out to: Kigali Health Institute.

On behalf of the Rwanda Project group, please accept our deepest gratitude for your support to this meaningful and worthy project.

Sincerely, 

Dr. June Ann Smith

Project Director and Faculty Sponsor 

Cc:   Dr. Terry Bordan

      Department Chair 

Cc: Dr. Robert Manheimer, Dean