Families need to embrace their parental responsibilities so as to combat the growing issue of child abandonment, Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, counselled during the inaugural celebration of Malaika Murinzi Day, in Muhanga District, on Friday, May 31.
Initiated in 2007, the Malayika Murinzi – Guardian Angels – campaign was all about identifying and rewarding adults who have shown remarkable compassion and selflessness by adopting, caring and protecting vulnerable children in their own communities. This initiative was a continuation of the Organization of African First Ladies program &039;Treat Every Child as your Own'.
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Every year, around 700 children are abandoned by parents and extended families, and all of them are placed into foster care families where they live in a safe and stable environment, according to the National Child Development Agency (NCDA). On Friday, the latter brought together more than 1,000 'guardian angels' from across the country to recognize them for their unwavering dedication, compassion, and love for children in need.
During the ceremony held at Muhanga Stadium, the minister acknowledged the vital role of families as the foundation of both the community and the nation and commended the extraordinary initiatives taken by families in providing loving homes for abandoned children.
In 2012, the government started implementing a strategy for national child care reform through the Tubarerere Mu Muryango Program, to encourage all children to be raised in a family setup.
Since then, 3,465 children and young adults who were in institutional care have been placed into families. Among them, 589 children were placed into the care of the foster families called Malayika Murinzi. Currently, there are 6, 483 such foster families countrywide. The program initiated the phase-out of orphanage facilities across the country. Children in orphanages were either reunited with their families, if they had them, or placed into foster homes. But there has been a rise in child abandonment due to parents failing to fulfill their roles or due to other factors leading.
The minister noted: "We are still seeing children neglected by their parents who fail to meet their responsibilities. We&039;re also seeing children being abused in different ways, mostly in families with conflicts and other related issues. While we celebrate those who have found foster families, the number of neglected and abused children is still increasing.”
"We need to provide for children's needs, show them love, spend time with them, give them nutritious food, provide health care, and send them to school. These are the primary responsibilities of every parent to ensure kids receive proper cognitive development in every aspect,” she added.
Uwamariya cautioned about misleading and misinterpreted information, especially among unmarried young people, who think that families no longer exist.
"Malayika Murinzi is a good example that families still exist. However, families are urged to return to their parental responsibilities to prevent the persistent rise of neglected children and ensure a better future for our country.”
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During the event, five people were awarded cows while several others received certificates in recognition for their unwavering dedication, compassion, and love for children in need. One of them, Jeantrude Mukashema, a resident of Kirengera Village, in Byimana Sector, Ruhango District, spoke to The New Times about her experience fostering two children.
Mukashema who is married and has six children of her own received her first foster son in 2011 soon after he was abandoned. At that time, she was on the village committee, and was approached for help after the baby was found in a bush. The boy, Irakoze Mugisha, now 13, is in primary school.
Her second foster child, a girl named Ornella Igisubizo Queen, is a year and two months old. She was also abandoned and given to a family that refused her. Mukashema decided to take charge and care for her as well.
"I feel like they are my children; given to me by God. I love them. I also receive support in the form of milk to feed the young one, and they are both growing under God&039;s favour. I'm very optimistic that they will grow and thrive,” she said, beaming with joy.
Good deeds never fade
Another Malaika Murinzi, Jean Kaboneka, a resident of Kabarole Village, in Kabarole Sector, Gatsibo District, is a demobilized soldier who became paralysed in 2000 while still serving. Disability forced him to quit the army. Although Kaboneka did not receive a certificate or a cow, he cares for one biological child as well as an adopted boy, Frank Ishimwe, whom he adopted in 2018.
Ishimwe was only seven months old, weighing five kilos, when Kaboneka found him at the sector office. Kaboneka took care of him and he is now at an Anglican school in Kabarole.
"When you take good care of a child, it’s no different from providing security to the nation. A Rwandan child is Rwanda. Good deeds never fade,” Kaboneka said.
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Assumpta Ingabire, the Director General of NCDA, said, "We have not encountered any problem finding someone to care for abandoned children whenever necessary, despite some parents&039; bad habits of neglecting their own children.”
"Although we've accomplished a lot, we still face problems of stunting, teen pregnancies, school dropouts, and more. We need to collectively work together to combat these issues and encourage the need to raise better children with civic education for the country.”