Acts Of Gratitude is a Rwanda-based non-profit organization founded in 2011 by 13 grateful people. These people have been saved by family, friends, charity organizations, governmental institutions, etc. and feel owing to the community a debt of gratitude and active involvement. They aspire to share the burden with those who helped them and are still helping others in need.
At its start, AOG started giving back to the community through four programs which are Educate Rwanda, Kigali Social Enterprise Academy, Grateful People’s Investment, and Umunsingi Community Service. Through Educate Rwanda, AOG funded the education of 15 brightest secondary school students whose families lack means to afford school fees. Also, Kigali Social Entrepreneurship Academy program was designed to support aspiring young social entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into successful businesses, create economic opportunities for themselves, and their communities, where 34 short-term micro-loans disbursed to disadvantaged but entrepreneurship minded Rwandans.
As well, AOG come-up with Grateful People’s Investment to bridge the financial access gap targeting AOG volunteers first and other young people with brilliant micro businesses and projects. While, on a monthly basis, through Umusingi Community Services, AOG provided the opportunity to its volunteers to donate food to patients in hospitals and clothes in poor communities and refugee camps. As a result, 20, 000 meals taken to patients in public hospitals and 33, 600 clothes collected and distributed to the needy.
Today, AOG is giving back to the community through the two programs which are Social Enterprise development and Acts Citizenship.