Thursday 25th January 2018, officials from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and other leaders visited SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda. Led by Hon. Minister Espérance Nyirasafari, the team, including the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Children, the National Early Childhood Coordinator, the Director General National Rehabilitation Services, and Vice Mayor Gasabo district and other officials visited various programmes of SOS CV Rwanda including Family Based Care, Family Strengthening programme as well as the Technical High School.
The visit aimed at understanding SOS CV Rwanda role and contribution to child care/protection and family strengthening in Rwanda.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda Mr. John Nyombayire thanked the Minister for honoring SOS CV Rwanda and visiting its programmes in Kigali. He expressed sincere appreciation to all SOS mothers and emphasized that SOS contribution is hinged on the tremendous work done by SOS mothers.
He emphasized that SOS CV Rwanda strongly believes in togetherness and transparency and urged all SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda staff to abide by the two principles and its genuine commitment of self-reliance and sustainability to ensure that families are strengthened and remain the best place for a child to be nurtured. He reiterated SOS CV Rwanda continued support to government efforts in child care and protection and close collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion and other Government agencies such that every child grows up in a family with love and protection.
The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda Claudine Nyinawagaga also noted that SOS CV Rwanda supports 660 through family based care and youth facilities and more than 5000 children from poor families in four Districts of Nyamagabe, Kayonza, Gasabo and Gicumbi, through Family Strengthening programmes.”
Addressing the gathering, the Honorable Minister expressed her gratitude to the founders of SOS CVI and to the mothers who worked tirelessly after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi giving hope to a very big number of Rwandan Children. Infact SOS CV Rwanda has supported in time of need - after the tragic genocide that befell Rwanda.
The Honorable Minister also hailed SOS CV Rwanda for its remarkable work in Rwanda including strengthening families, Early Childhood Development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training. “You have seen how SOS helps children to acquire technical skills, we are happy that in SOS, children pursue their studies until university level which promotes self-reliance and independent living once emancipated. SOS Children’s Villages has professional mothers and aunts providing care to children unlike other institutions in Rwanda where children have no one care for them.
Hon. Nyirasafari further noted that since the adoption of the national strategy for Child Care Reform with the Tubarere Mu Muryango Program (TMM) in 2012, more than 2000 children have been reintegrated and the journey continues. She reminded parents to enhance their parental responsibility. “No one should have a child expecting someone else to take care of him or her. If you decide to a have a baby, it means that you are ready to take care of him/her and do not expect someone else to do so.” Hon. Minister said.
She pledged her support and collaboration with SOS CV Rwanda and strongly called on the National Commission for Children and other agencies to work together with SOS CV Rwanda throughout the re-integration process.
SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda supports the Government of Rwanda to promote child rights and protection to ensure that children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care receive appropriate alternative care and protection that serves their best interest.
SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is an affiliate of SOS Children’s Villages International working in Rwanda since 1979, It currently has four Children’s Villages supporting home based care to vulnerable children with a robust program team of 321 staff in four locations and a head office in Kigali specializing in education, health, child care and protection, family strengthening programs and advocacy.