Ecobank Rwanda staff on Thursday donated Rwf 5M to support children living with mental disability at Brothers of Charity HVP Gatagara in Ndera Sector.

The centre in Gasabo District takes in young people living with mental disabilities and is currently home to 82 children.

The move was part of the bank’s annual Ecobank Day where they give back to the society.

Every year, the bank reserves a day to reach out to local communities.

The bank donated an assortment of supplies required at the centre as well as foodstuff in readiness for upcoming festive seasons.

The bank also committed financial support which will be used to construct a resting room for the young people.

This year’s Day was celebrated under the theme, "Support Young Lives in Africa.”

According to the Managing Director of the Bank in Rwanda Alice Kilonzo Zulu said the relief to the center demonstrates the bank’s compassion to the children with intellectual disability.

"It is important for businesses and their staff to give back to their local communities. About 15 per cent of the world’s population lives with some form of disabilities and approximately 1.3 per cent of the global population has an intellectual disability. Our continent is a home to many of our children with intellectual disabilities and it is our privilege to show our passion to them,” Zulu said.

She added, "Supporting centers like this is one way to model best practices which will be used to advocate for children with such problems as well as focusing on improving standards of special education and health care for them. Once a year, we take a time aside to give back to the community. It is very important to play our role in terms of our social responsibility. ”

Currently, the population of children with Intellectual disabilities at the centre is 82 children.

Besides the relief, the staff has interacted with children in games for fitness.

The bank has also vowed to keep on contributing to ensure the current challenges are well tackled at the center.

Salim Elissam Ntibanyendera, the Coordinator of Brothers of Charity HVP Gatagara in Ndera, thanked the bank for the support saying that the relief will help the center to improve the services provided to the children.

"The relief means a lot to the center. It symbolises how much the bank values people with disabilities. We highly appreciate it and it will improve well-being of the children,” he said.

Ntibanyendera added that the center had been facing some challenges after withdrawal of support by a former partner.

Over the last 21 years, the center has taken in a total of 1117 children.

The children are rehabilitated and then re-integrated to the community and some of them have started some businesses.

Last year, Ecobank Day was themed around "Safe water, Healthy Living” under which clean water was provided to Rambura Secondary School in Nyabihu District.