IGIHE

Category: UNICEF

  • UNICEF Rwanda launches ‘The Beginning of Life’ film

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Rwanda has celebrated 70 years since its inception and lauded the progress made in protecting children rights.

    The ceremony concurrently took place with the launch of a film ‘The Beginning of Life’ advising parents on how take care of their children. It was shown in Rwanda for the first time on Wednesday 14th December 2016. The film was shot in nine countries including Kenya and demonstrates the process of child growth from birth until adulthood along with the parent’s role in the growth.

    Various experts revealed that a parent can determine the future of the child within the first three years and start following up him/her to make him a better person for the society.

    The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Gender and family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine said that the government will collaborate with UNICEF to conduct research on how to promote child growth.

    “The government has implemented a policy taking care of a child from pregnancy up to six years. In collaboration with Ministry of education and UNICEF, we are establishing institutions and other bodies to build kindergarten schools too strengthen early childhood development and imparting moral values and excellence,” she said.

    “ Research will be carried out soon to establish what infants need and what can be done for them to enhance better growth in family. It will help us to improve the program aimed at reaching children from poor families to get their rights respected,” she added.

    The representative of UNICEF in Rwanda, Ted Maly has commended the contribution they have made in the 30 years of operating in Rwanda and their collaboration with the government to offer proper education to kids.

    “Our program is founded on promoting children rights, sending them to school, get health care and get their needs. Through the collaboration with the government of Rwanda, I voice my appreciation to President Paul Kagame and the first lady for their role in promoting critical thinking among the children of Rwanda,” he said.

    UNICEF supports Rwanda in a number of programs including “Tubarerere mu muryango” which cares for orphaned children.

    UNICEF was founded on 11th November 1946 by UN General Assembly.

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  • IKEA Foundation Contributes US 5.5 Million to UNICEF Rwanda

    IKEA Foundation Contributes US 5.5 Million to UNICEF Rwanda

    To mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, IKEA Foundation is boosting its commitment to children with six new grants to UNICEF, amounting to US $31.5 million (€24.9 million).

    The new grants will focus on reaching the most marginalized and disadvantaged children living in poor communities and in strengthening UNICEF’s response in emergency and conflict situations.

    Five of the IKEA Foundation grants will support UNICEF programmes in Afghanistan, China, India, Pakistan, and Rwanda. The new grants will focus on early childhood development, child protection, education, and helping adolescents to improve their lives and strengthen their communities.

    A sixth grant will enable UNICEF to develop information management tools to strengthen emergency response and monitoring.

    “UNICEF’s partnership with IKEA Foundation has helped advance the rights and improve the lives of children growing up in some of the world’s most difficult places,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “We are grateful to the Foundation and look forward to continuing our work together to reach the children we have not yet reached, and to put equity and children’s rights at the centre of an agenda of action for all children.”

    Since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989, there has been tremendous progress for children. A baby born in 2014 has a much better chance of surviving beyond the age of five. Children today are far likelier to go to primary school than they were in 1989. The number of children aged 5-17 involved in child labour has declined by almost one third since 2000. Yet too many children have not benefitted from this progress.

    IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes said “We are very proud of our longstanding partnership with UNICEF, helping to develop new approaches leading to improved lives for millions of vulnerable children around the world. These new grants will ensure this work continues, helping even more young adolescents, children and families enjoy their basic rights.”

    IKEA Foundation is UNICEF’s largest private sector donor. Over the last decade, this partnership has helped promote the rights of millions of children to survival, education and protection in Africa and Asia.

    IKEA Foundation’s six grants to UNICEF are:

    In Afghanistan, India and Pakistan – Empowering thousands of adolescents to take responsibility over decisions effecting their lives and societies (US$16.1 million or €12.9 million).

    In Rwanda – Investing in family and community centred services to provide better care for children (nearly US$5.5 million or €4.6 million).

    In China – Providing thousands of vulnerable children with early childhood development and education (US$3.75 million or €3 million).

    In Jammu/Kashmir, India – Protecting children from violence, abuse, exploitation and unnecessary family separation (US$ 2.5 million or €2 million)

    In China – Improving the welfare of orphans and other vulnerable children in rural communities (US$1.87 million or €1.5 million).

    Strengthening UNICEF’s humanitarian response and monitoring through better data collection, sharing, analysis, management and reporting (US$1.11 million or €886,402).

    RWANDA-PODIUM