The International Director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region at SOS Children’s Villages International Senait B. Gebregziabher laid a foundation stone for the construction of the new SOS Primary School in Kigali during her five-day visit at SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda from the 13th to 17th March 2023.
In her remarks, the IDR urged parents and leaders to work together to uplift and ensure childhood development for children, as it is very critical to build their foundation.
During her visit to Rwanda, she met the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion Professor Jeannette Bayisenge at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF).
Their discussions focused on ongoing collaboration between SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda and MIGEPROF, achievements in reintegration of children, child rights, and empowering families as a prevention of child family separation and alternative care forms of children without parental care.
Minister Jeannette and Senait also exchanged on future areas of partnership with SOS Children’s Villages aiming at improving the children’s welfare and supporting different programs targeting well-being of children and families.
“The Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion recognizes the interventions of SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda to build a strong family and stable family for the interest of children. The SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda play an important role to take care of vulnerable children and restoring the hope of children living in street situations,” explained Minister Bayisenge.
The IDR Senait appreciated the cooperation between SOS Children’s Villages and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion. She said that SOS Children’s Villages strive to ensure that children are well-protected and growing up in a safe environment.
The IDR also met the Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs, Assumpta Ingabire, at the Ministry of Local Governance (MINALOC). Their discussions focused on strengthening existing partnerships in advancing children’s rights and taking care of vulnerable children especially families living in extreme poverty and children living in street situations.
During her visit to the program location in Nyamagabe, the IDR met the Mayor of Nyamagabe District Hildebrand Niyomwungeri. Hildebrand appreciated SOS Children’s Villages in Rwanda’s program for its interventions in the reintegrating street children into families and providing them with basic needs. He expressed the need for an inclusive program to improving the welfare of children with disabilities.
At Bugesera District, a district marked by heavy droughts, the IDR addressed to members of the Abadahigwa Cooperative formed under the Green Project: “We feel proud and enthusiastic of seeing people like you who are committed to working together and aiming to take care of your children in a safe environment."
Green project is a pilot project in Gashora Sector, a semi-arid Agro-Ecological Zone in Bugesera district, which aims at raising awareness of environmental protection and improving living conditions of affected families, The project promotes regenerative agriculture, soil fertility and agricultural productivity through effective land husbandry practices within an integrated landscape management approach.