The Rwanda Police Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent operating under the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma) has donated an assortment of scholastic materials to needy pupils in the West African nation.

The support, which includes a year’s worth of tuition and clothes, was given to pupils of Ecole fondamentale de Boulgoundjie in Gao city on Wednesday.

It was handed over to the beneficiaries by the Rwanda FPU Mali 1 contingent commander Bertin Mutezintare.

The beneficiaries are those that were either orphaned or separated from their families during the northern Mali rebellion in 2012.

The support is a financial contribution of each of the Rwanda Police peacekeepers serving in Mali. The peacekeepers also provided free medical consultation to scores of patients.

Mutezintare appealed to the beneficiaries and the youth not to lose hope.

"Even in the face of adversity, don’t lose hope; have faith and utilise the available opportunities to build for a better future,” he told the students, urging them to concentrate on their studies to be future leaders the country yearns for.

Minusma and the school administration thanked the peacekeepers for going beyond their mandate to give hope to the youngsters. 

There are 141 Rwanda Police peacekeepers in Mali.