A hand for Africa

Bigira KiroKiro, or simply Kiro as he is known, is no stranger to kindness. Kiro is a board member and one of the founders of the Moses Kaibwe Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of African children.

Kiro, who lives in Newport Beach, came to the United States in 1992 as a Rwandan refugee. After receiving political asylum and settling down in the U.S., Kiro returned to Africa and was inspired to help make conditions there better for others. “When I went back, I saw how different it is from this side, and back home, it was like 100 years behind, and I couldn’t resist,” Kiro said. “I wanted to do something about it.”

With the help of two other board members, Gretchen McKay and Judy Knight, the Moses fund was created.

From January to July of 2006, the fund raised $30,000 for African children, thanks to donations made at Kiro’s Foutain Valley shop, African Corner, which plays a significant roll in supporting the fund. The Moses fund’s current projects include improving schools in Rwanda and Burundi, providing milk to children whose mothers are HIV positive, giving blankets and soap to a tribe called the Batwa, and helping inform people about HIV and AIDS. “I want to help — I want to help more,” Kiro said.

Besides working for the fund, Kiro owns and operates African Corner, a gift shop that sells various products and art from Africa. The shop helps the fund by offering a place for people to donate, and by getting the community involved in fundraising events, such as concerts and drumming circles. Kiro is planning a benefit concert on Feb. 23 at Costa Mesa’s Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave. Details are still in the works. Go to www.themosesfund.org for information.

In the future, Kiro plans to return to Africa to visit those he has helped, “The world is always in need … and the children are always in need because they can’t do it themselves,” Kiro said.