EIGHT men and women from Dunbar Parish Church have ventured out to Rwanda in a bid to strengthen links between a town in each country.

A link between Dunbar Parish Church and The Living Church, in Kibungo, stretches back to 2007, with people from the East Lothian town regularly travelling to the African country.

One of those heading out this time is Kilvert Croft, from The Rwanda Scotland Alliance and the Dunbar Kibungo Partnership.

He said: “Dunbar Parish Church helped to fund the building of a church there, a really big church.

“Hopefully, it is going to be able to sit 2,000 people when complete.

“It is nearly finished but that was just a starting point to us.

“We are going to go out and help the community.” The Pastor of the Rwandan church, in the town of Kibungo, is Joe Mugasa.

Mr Croft, who travelled out on Tuesday after flying from Edinburgh to Brussels and then on to the country’s capital, Kigali, said the group were going to look at key areas for development with Pastor Mugasa and the community.

Then, back in Scotland, it is hoped to raise community awareness about the area, as well as funds for projects.

It comes just days after members of the Rwandan Commonwealth Games team were based in the county.

Their stay included a visit to Dunbar for a special reception and meal, where dishes from both countries were served.

Mr Croft said the visit had “really inspired” people and they would be heading to Rwanda with sporting equipment and gifts.

That includes footballs, as well items donated by a number of groups, including Dunbar Grammar School and Dunbar United Colts.

But Mr Croft, who has visited the country twice, stressed it was not a one-way street.

He said: “The people that go just get revitalised and get a sense of humility.

“People there can suffer far more than we do and they do not moan.

“Because of the genocide, their ability to forgive and move on is inspiring – that is something we can all learn from.” Mr Croft, who is Dunbar Community Council’s treasurer, added: “One of the biggest things is you gain an awful lot by giving. It’s a wonderful way of staying healthy.” Talks have been held in the past around the idea of a formal twinning arrangement between Dunbar and Kibungo.

That could be explored further in the coming months, with the eight-strong party set to return to East Lothian in August.

Already, the town has official links with Martinez, in California, and Lignieres, in France, as well as a budding relationship with the Italian town of Narni.