First Lady Mrs Jeannette Kagame and her counterpart from Benin, Mrs Claudine Talon, yesterday, visited Imbuto projects and other development programmes in the Eastern Province.

The First Ladies visited the Integrated Development Programme model village of Kayonza, Imbuto Foundation’s Early Childhood Development and Family Centre (ECD&F), and the Women for Women Opportunity Centre, in Kayonza District.

The ECD&F is an integrated community based model, for cognitive stimulation and school readiness of 0-6 years children.

The visit is aimed at giving Mrs. Talon an informed opinion on how to run her own Claudine Talon Foundation, which she established last July.

The Women’s Opportunity Center’s multi-use facility, designed by award-winning architect Sharon Davis, fosters growth, education and self-empowerment at the grassroots level.

It is a permanent place for gathering, a safe environment for learning, new opportunities to acquire job skills, manage a business and fuel the economy.

Antoinette Uwimana, Country Director Women for Women, said the organisation believes in the growth and restorative potentials of education and self-empowerment at the grassroots level.

"We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Jeannette Kagame and Mrs. Claudine Talon to the Women’s Opportunity Center, which is a model for learning, commerce, exchange, and progress for women here in Rwanda,” she said.

Formed 15 years ago, Imbuto Foundation has been instrumental in according educational and health support to vulnerable children and women in Rwanda, as well as spearheading projects that support survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Ten years ago, Imbuto Foundation initiated an annual social mobilisation campaign to motivate girls to perform well at school. The Foundation has went on to recognise more than 4000 young girls with outstanding academic performance – with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment and training, and scholastic materials – with an intention to encourage many more to aspire for excellence.

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