Last weekend, staff from Imbuto Foundation and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) participated in Umuganda activities in Nyarugunga Sector of Kicukiro District. Activities focused on the rehabilitation of the Kicukiro District Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre, including improvements to the surrounding fence for children’s safety, de-clogging the centre’s drainage system, and building kitchen gardens to improve nutrition.

Early childhood development (ECD) is an important priority for both UNICEF and Imbuto Foundation. Speaking to journalists during the event, Ted Maly, UNICEF Representative, said that Umuganda activities for September focused not only on creating a safe and protective environment for children involved in ECD, but also giving back to the community which has made ECD such a high priority.

"We very much believe that participation by the community during Umuganda has been an important element of Rwanda’s development. We hope that ECD will continue to be a priority for future Umuganda activities,” said Maly

Also present at Umuganda was Sandrine Umutoni, the Director General of Imbuto Foundation. She urged parents to support early childhood development, which is already receiving a lot of support at the national level.

"This Umuganda was an opportunity for us to enforce the messages behind the ECD centre, focusing on the wellness of the child, the importance of positive parenting, and for us to meet with the residents and take part in the general conversations around ECD,” she said.