First Lady Calls for End of Orphanages

The First Lady, Jeanette Kagame has called for an end to culture of raising children in orphanages but take up such children whose parents died.

She was Friday, presiding over the International Womens Day celebrations which was held at Musanze District.

The First lady, Mrs. Jeanette Kagame who was the guest of honor at the event, launched the Rwandan Women and Girls’ Month.

During the celebrations, Imbuto foundation rewarded 87 girls who excelled in primary and secondary school national examinations last year.

17 Guardian Angels locally referred to as Malayika Murinzi were also rewarded for their exemplary acts of love and kindness they show in caring for orphans.

Mrs. Jeannette Kagame thanked all people who have continued to support the government of Rwanda’s policies aimed at promoting civic education for the girl child and Rwandan children in general.

This year’s theme for Women and Girls’ Month in Rwanda is “Gender Equality that Promotes Family Dignity”.

Mrs. Kagame asked for everyone’s role in the fight to eliminate school drop-out by girls due to pregnancies, the vice she says is slowly but surely plaguing the Rwandan society.

Touching on the Women’s program where they meet in the evening to discuss what should be done for the tranquility in their homes, dubbed ‘Umugoroba w’ababyeyi’, the first lady said the program will focus on eliminating domestic violence.

She proposed that this program entails the whole family, where mothers meet with their children and discuss issues affecting their family.

She also advocated that the program becomes a culture like the monthly community work locally known as UMUGANDA.

During the running of the program, women will be sensitized to practice family planning and have children they can take care of, preparing a balanced diet, using biogas energy, the culture of saving and other social activities.

Mrs. Jeanette Kagame encouraged girls to strive for self-reliance and promote academic performance by changing their mindset. She said girls should feel that they are can excel.

ORINFOR