Inspired by a movie about the horrors of war in Rwanda, members of Wesley Methodist Church will be holding a fashion show to raise money for Rwandan orphans.

"The Ladies of Wesley Methodist Church held their annual May retreat at Willowbank in Somerset.

"As part of their programme they watched the movie, 'Hotel Rwanda'," said fashion show organiser Judith Welch.

This movie is about the true story of how Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, saved over 1,500 people from the genocide that swept Rwanda in 1994, including a group of orphans brought to him by the Red Cross

Rwanda still suffers from the horrors that occurred 15 years ago.

"After the retreat, some of the ladies expressed a wish to do something to help," said Mrs. Welch. "One of them was able to supply our Missions Committee with information about the Rafiki Organisation's orphanage in Rwanda."

As a result the Missions Committee at Wesley Methodist Church contacted Rafiki to let them know they were planning a fashion show featuring their young people as models, to raise funds for the Rafiki Village orphanage.

The response from the orphanage was: "Thank you so much for your kind offer to help the orphans at our Rafiki village in Nyamata, Rwanda.

"Our records show there are an estimated 687,000 orphans in Rwanda so there is much to be done for these precious children.

"We are honoured that you have chosen Rafiki to be the recipient of your fund-raising efforts."

The Rafiki orphanage offers housing, schools, medical clinics and Bible study to the orphans.

"This daily Bible study was originally written for use by our Rafiki orphans, but word got out to various church denominations in Africa that we have written this study," wrote a representative from the orphanage.

"They contacted Rafiki to let us know they did not have any Bible study materials for use in their Christian church schools.

"They requested that they be allowed to use the Rafiki Bible study in their Christian schools, so literally millions of children will soon be studying God's Word."

Rafiki is currently training the headmasters of these schools on how to use the Bible study.

The fashion show will be on July 2 at 7 p.m. at the Dyer Hall at Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton.

Tickets are $15 and can be obtained from the church office or missions committee members. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact the church at 292-0418.