The day care facilities were inaugurated recently at New Rugarama Mining in Kagogo sector and Fifurwe Mining site in Rugendabare sector in Burera District.
The facilities completed at a tune of Rwf40 million give relief to parents involved in minerals excavation who were subjected to risks of being laid off as they take care of their children or would see their children stunting over inadequate parenting.
The ECDs were completed through the collaboration between mining companies in respective areas, Rwandan Extractive industry Workers Union (REWU), Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) on the funding of UNICEF.
Beneficiaries have revealed that some of them would lose jobs after giving birth or would not find enough time to take care of their children.
“We are excited and thank donors for building this modern ECD for us. I was once unable to go to work for long after giving birth and resumed work later. I struggled that time because I was obliged to hire a domestic worker to look after my child. Besides, I would not be concentrated at work thinking of my child’s safety. Today, the situation has changed as we work without disruptions and get time to check on our children whom we find in good conditions at the centers,” Jeanne d’Arc Nyiraburiri said.
Another beneficiary, Marceline Yankurije highlighted that they are no longer worried of their children’s wellbeing as they go to work.
“Our children are decently taken care of. We drop them here at the daycare center as we go to work. We are given time to breastfeed our children that we have no worries of their wellbeing,” she said.
Aloysie Nyirangirimana has expressed optimism for positive transformations as the work will be done smoothly while children get decent treatment at the launched ECDs.
“We extend our gratitude to the Government because our children are properly raised free of charge,” she noted.
The Secretary General of Rwanda Extractive Industry Workers Union, André Mutsindashyaka hailed the program expected to help mothers do their jobs smoothly and become more productive and prosper.
“We are excited for this program promising to reassure parents as they stay concentrated at work being assured of their children’s safety. This will help them to increase productivity, spur individual’s growth and contribute to national economy as well,” he said.
The CEO of RMB, Amb. Yamina Karitanyi commended the great initiative and urged more mining companies to follow the suit, if they are to maintain sustainable growth.
“Promoting the mining sector should go hand in hand with the progress of workers. We appreciate this initiative to set up these day care centers for children born to parents working in mining excavations. We would like to request more mining firms to establish similar facilities to help their workers,” she said.
Julianna Lindsey, the Representative of UNICEF in Rwanda extolled existing good cooperation with Rwanda and called for concerted efforts to take care of children’s upbringing.
The Minister of Local Government, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi has requested all mining companies to establish daycares to help mothers working with them.
“Supporting children incurs no loss. It is rewarding. We would like to request mining companies to set up such Early Childhood Development Centers to help children born to employed parents and others in the neighborhoods. Proper upbringing prevents stunting and benefits the country, particularly this sector because they are tomorrow’s workforce to replace parents in their advanced ages,” he said.
The daycares launched recently started with 66 children.
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