PREAMBLE AND THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES.
We, Rwandan refugees, residing in Zambia:
· Fully aware of the plight of Rwandan refugees in general; · Fully aware of the fact that isolation from one another makes it impossible for us to craft a common message to make our voice heard; · Fully aware of the fact that Rwandan culture is rapidly deteriorating especially among the youth, · With the full knowledge of the extreme mistreatment of Rwandan refugees in war times and the ensuing consequences; · We recognize the need to put all our will and energy together in order to overcome our difficulties and to improve our lives;
We resolve to do the following:
1. GENERAL STRUCTURE
ARTICLE I
The creation and naming of the Association:
We, hereby, establish an association for Rwandan refugees residing in Zambia named:
“The ASSOCIATION FOR RWANDAN REFUGEES IN ZAMBIA-NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA”.
ARTICLE II
The nature of the Association NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA is a NON Profit-organization.
ARTICLE III
Objectives NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA Objectives are as follows:
1. To help Rwandan refugees who were victimized by war in rebuilding their lives.
2. To fight for the human rights of Rwandan refugees;
3. To support and spread Rwandese culture in order to keep it alive for the new generations;
4. Keeping up with new knowledge in different areas, in order to empower and improve the lives of Rwandan refugees living in Zambia;
5. Exchanging knowledge in matters pertaining to the general welfare of Rwandan refugees living in Zambia.
ARTICLE IV
Leadership and priority areas Social
-To encourage the intra and inter relationship amongst the members of the Rwandan community living in Zambia,
-To cultivate a culture of tolerance amongst Hutu, Tutsi and Twa refugees, Legal
-To provide pro bono legal counsel to any refugees should they request for it,
-To sensitize Rwandan refugees living in towns on the need to abide by Zambian immigration laws, Health
-To liaise with financially stable refugees to assist vulnerable ones whenever they are not able to meet their medical expenses,
-To lobby on behalf of the Rwandan refugees from the UNHCR Office for assistance whenever the community has failed. Education
-To lobby for sponsorship from the UNHCR for refugees who meet the academic criteria,
-To encourage the Rwandan Community in Zambia to set up an emergency fund to assist successful refugees whom the UNHCR cannot support due to various reasons.
Economy
– To help Rwandan refugees living in Zambia find various skills and trades to help them improve their lives;
– To encourage the youth to build entrepreneurship skills that allow them to create small profitable businesses;
-To raise awareness among the youth about the necessity of saving, and not over spend the little resources they have;
ARTICLE V
Our motto is;
The Association’s motto is “PEACE- CHANGE – PROGRESS”
ARTICLE VI
Our coat of arms NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA’s Coat of Arms is “A tricolor (white, blue, green).The meaning of this Coat of arms will be explained within the Association by laws.
ARTICLE VII
The duration There is no time limit to this Association, it will last as long as the need is there.
ARTICLE VIII
NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA Headquarters: Its headquarters are in Lusaka, Zambia.
2. MEMBERS OF NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA
ARTICLE IX
There are three types of membership for NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA:
-Founding members
-Regular members
-Honorary members
ARTICLE X
Founding members:
Founding members are entities or individuals who accepted to sign the founding documents (Statutes, rules and regulations) before it is recognized as an independent entity. These members are confirmed by the General Assembly.
ARTICLE XI
Regular members:
Regular members are entities or individual who accept to apply the rules and regulations of the Association after it have been recognized as an independent entity. They are confirmed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XII
Honorary members:
The honorary members are entities or individuals who live in Zambia and other countries, who subscribe to the rules and regulations of the Association, and who are willing to support it with expert advice or other tangible actions. They are confirmed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIII
Membership requirements:
A) Founding members and regular members:
Founding members and regulars members must be Rwandan refugees who accept to apply the rules and regulations of the Association.
B) Honorary members:
An honorary member can be a Rwandan refugee or a foreigner who accept to follow the rules and regulations of the Association.
ARTICLE XIV
Reason for membership termination:
– Resignation.
– Death
– Dismissal due to various reasons which must be confirmed by the General Assembly.
ARTICLE XV
The rights and responsibilities of the members are detailed in the Association’s by laws.
3. THE ASSOCIATION’S LEADERSHIP AND FUNCTIONS
ARTICLE XVI
Leadership:
The General Assembly The Executive committee The Board of Directors
ARTICLE XVII
The General Assembly:
The General Assembly is the highest organ of the Association. It made of all members except the honorary members. Honorary members may be invited in to attend the General Assembly to voice their opinions but are barred from the Assembly’s decision making process.
ARTICLE XVIII
The responsibilities of the General Assembly:
– Reviewing reports from the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors
– Approving the Association’s budget
– Approving or amending the Association’s by laws
– Appointing other members in leadership position through the electoral process
– Dissolving the Association if necessary
ARTICLE XVIIII
The General Assembly is called every six months and any other time it becomes necessary. 2/3 of the members must be in attendance for the Assembly to proceed with its agenda. In case the quorum is not reached, another General Assembly is called in a period no longer than a month
ARTICLE XX
The General Assembly is called upon and chaired by the President. In case of his absence, the Vice President assumes her role.
ARTICLE XXI
Decisions of the General Assembly require a 2/3 majority vote of all members present.
ARTICLE XXII
The Executive Committee is made of:
– President
– Vice President
– Secretary
– Treasurer
– Two advisers
ARTICLE XXIII
Members of the Executive committee are voted in by the General Assembly by a show of hand or written ballot, for a two year term, after which they can still pose their candidacy.
ARTICLE XXIV
The responsibilities of the Executive Committee are:
-Day to day running of the organization
-Deciding all matters except those that are the sole responsibility of the General Assembly.
-Studying the Association’s projects:
-Representing and promoting the Association.
-Planning the General Assembly and implementing its decisions
-Studying the budget before submitting it to the General Assembly.
ARTICLE XXV
The Executive Committee meets once every month and any time it becomes necessary.
ARTICLE XXVI
The Executive Committee decision are taken by a half plus one majority vote of those present at the meeting.
ARTICLE XXVII
The Executive committee meeting is called and chaired by the President. In case of the President’s absence, the Vice President assumes her role.
ARTICLE XXVIII
The Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is made of three Directors who elect among themselves the Chairman of the Board and the Deputy Chair.
ARTICLE XXVIII
The Responsibilities of the Board of Directors are:
-Making sure that the Associations resources are being used wisely.
-Compiling a report for the General Assembly which is submitted to the Assembly by the President.
ARTICLE XXX
The Board of Directors meets once every three months, and any other time it becomes necessary.
ARTICLE XXXI
The Board of Directors’ meeting is called and chaired by the Chairman of the Board.
ARTICLE XXXII
The Board of Directors is appointed or removed by the General Assembly
4. THE ASSOCIATIONS FINANCES
ARTICLE XXXIII
The Associations’ monies come from:
-Membership fees.
-Donations or inheritance
-Different fundraising activities by the Association.
-The Association private properties.
5. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS.
ARTICLE XXXIV
Only the General Assembly has the right to modify the rules and regulations of the Association.
ARTICLE XXXV
Only the General Assembly can dissolve the Association by a ¾ majority votes of those in attendance.
ARTICLE XXXVI
Once the decision has been made about the dissolution of the Association, all its assets are shared among founding and regular members. Those assets that may not be shared among the members are then donated to another organization that has the same goals as NEW HOPE FOR RWANDA. If no other organization is available, then it is incumbent to General Assembly that made the decision to dissolve the Association to find an appropriate use for those assets.
ARTICLE XXXVII
The Executive Committee is in charge of conflict resolution, in the event the issues are not dealt with completely, the Executive Committee defers the matter to the General Assembly for a final decision.
ARTICLE XXXVIII
In the event of a situation that has not been foreseen by this document, a provisionary decision is taken by the Executive Committee, pending a lasting solution to come out of the General Assembly.
ARTICLE XXXVIIII
Any outstanding issues not mentioned in this here document, will be included in the Association’s by laws.
ARTICLE XL
Once these rules are approved by the General Assembly, they will come into effect as soon as they are signed by the President of the Association.
DONE IN LUSAKA, 26, 08, 2015,
LIONEL NISHIMWE (LLB, HONS.)
-FOUNDING PRESIDENT.
