Within their capacities, children need to embrace the concept of self-reliance.  

The call was made by Mathias Harebamungu, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, while addressing children at the ninth summit of National Child Council in Kigali yesterday.

The summit was attended by hundreds of children who represented their peers.

Harebamungu told them: "Self-reliance is not only about money as some people think. We want you to know that dependency has no place in your life.”

Children who were interviewed by The New Times at the summit said they were familiar with the concept of self-reliance, although they understood it differently. 

Some said self-reliance meant being polite, excelling in school, adopting a savings culture, helping parents in daily chores, and having a purpose in life.

Others, however, had never heard about self-reliance and wanted parents, teachers and authorities to explain the concept.

Harebamungu said: "We should not ask children complex things. We are teaching them what they can muster, for example, excelling in school, and making a vegetable garden at home. The aim is to inculcate the culture of independence and confidence among the younger generations.”

Saphia Iraguha, a S3 student at Authentic High School in Kicukiro District, said she is already practicing self reliance.

She has been saving the little pocket money that her parents give her and she has bought a fowl and a goat from the savings.

"I saved Rwf15,000 from my pocket money. I am also studying hard to become an important person in future. I want to become a minister or president of the Republic of Rwanda and use the position to advocate for self-reliance,” Iraguha said.

Seth Six, a S5 student from Nyarugenge District, defined self-reliance as developing capacity to depend on one’s own resources instead of borrowing from others. 

In December last year, Seth opened a bank account in the Bank of Kigali, and has since saved Rwf20,000. His dream is to buy a cow and leave it with her grandmother in the village. 

"I will make good use of my cattle after graduation,” he said. 

Parents believe self-reliance is a spirit children should embrace from an early stage. Brigitte Mutanguha, an employee at Urunana Development Communication, a local organisation said: "My teachers told me that I need ed to be self-reliant in order to excel. "This stuck in me and up to date, I fight hard to excel.” 

Mutanguha has two children in primary school who are determined to follow her example. 

"They shine at school and always challenge me; ‘You have a one-level house, mine will be of several storeys’”. 

At the meeting, the Mayor of the City of Kigali, Fidele Ndayisaba, urged children to desist from odd behaviours and cautioned parents against using their children to beg.

"People should stop giving these children handouts on the streets. They are not helping them, instead they are encouraging laziness,” Ndayisaba said.

He said the summit is meant to help children share their views, while engaging leaders responsible for supporting them and implementing their recommendations. 

Similar meetings were held in other provinces of the country.