Imagine we Rwanda and Mind Leaps Rwanda have donated a consignment of books to street kids in a drive aimed at empowering children to improve their writing and reading skills.

In an event that took place last week at Mind Leaps Rwanda’s premises at Nyamirambo, a Kigali suburb, 150 books and 45 magazines were given to the street kids that are schooled by Mind Leaps.

Eugene Dushime, the country director of Mind Leaps Rwanda, said helping vulnerable kids would inspire them to aspire for a good future.

"Street kids need a helping hand at this tender age. We believe that by reading they will gain knowledge for future use,’’ he said.

Rwikwiza Archange, the programme manager at Imagine we Rwanda, said that besides giving them books for reading, they also usually organise writing competitions like ‘Kagire Inkuru Writing Competition’, after which the best stories are rewarded with publication in ‘African Children Stories’.

Malika Helene Sikubwabo, the public relations and communications officer at Imagine we Rwanda, said the reading fantasy tales helps children’s imagination to grow so that they can dream big.

"I believe that if they dream, they will strive and yearn to be like authors or heroes they used to read about,” she said.

Mind Leaps Rwanda is an international non-governmental organisation that facilitates rehabilitation of street children through dance and computer classes, while Imagine we Rwanda, is a local NGO that aims at improving literacy through reading and writing among Rwandans.