SOS Children's Villages Rwanda, on June 18 received a cheque of Rwf6 million donation from Banque Populaire du Rwanda Plc (BPR) to support the organisation’s efforts in raising vulnerable children.

SOS Children's Villages is an international non-profit organisation with a mission to care for children and youth who have lost or who are at risk of losing parental care. They operate in 136 countries worldwide.

In Rwanda, they have been operating for 42 years and their activities are in Gasabo, Kayonza, Gicumbi and Nyamagabe districts where they provide alternative care to vulnerable children and youth.

The organization runs two major programmes; alternative care which provides care to abandoned children and vulnerable young people to unlock their potentials as well as a family-strengthening programme that empowers caregivers to be able to cater for children under their care.

BPR Plc has the largest banking network with over 135 branches and 350 agents and 51 ATM machines supported by mobile and internet banking platforms.

Jean-Bosco Kwizera, National Director of SOS Children’s Village Rwanda commended the bank for the donation saying it will boost efforts to raise vulnerable children.

"We welcome the support from BPR because it is additional support to raise vulnerable children. We really need funding from both outside Rwanda and local donors such as BPR. It requires people’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children. We thank those who are already contributing,” he said.

Kwizera urged Rwandans to join the efforts in supporting vulnerable children.

Currently, the organisation cares for 274 children and 315 youths grouped in the four villages they run in the country, while 318 children have been reintegrated into communities.

Over 7,100 beneficiaries and 1,179 families are enrolled into Family Strengthening Programme aiming to support vulnerable families in their capacity to protect and care for children.

 The Managing Director of BPR, Maurice Toroitich said that supporting the vulnerable people in communities is part of the lender’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to give back to the community.

"The most important reason why we decided to make a contribution to SOS villages Rwanda is that we see a close connection between the purpose of SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda and the purpose of BPR as a bank. We are both made up to provide support.

SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda provides support to vulnerable children from the community. The purpose of BPR is to provide financial support to communities to become sustainable and prosperous,” he said.

He said that by providing financial support to SOS Villages, BPR is giving hand to the efforts to the vulnerable children and families stressing "We depend on a community that is able to provide for business now and in the future. That is BPR's purpose.”

BPR recorded an after-tax profit of Rwf 3.8 B in 2020 amid the global pandemic that has slowed down local and international economic activity. 

BPR boss said that supporting the vulnerable people in communities is part of the lender’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to give back to the community.

Jean-Bosco Kwizera, National Director of SOS Children’s Village Rwanda and Maurice Toroitich the Managing Director of BPR visit beneficiaries of the support.

Maurice Toroitich, the Managing Director of BPR, visits beneficiaries of the support.