NYARUGENGE - Genocide orphans in Nyamirambo were yesterday urged to be courageous and desist from all sorts of bad behaviours that could ruin their future.

The message was put across to the orphans by Contact FM’s Fanny Umwali during a ceremony to hand over several household supplies that had been fundraised from the general public.

"You should be courageous and have hope for the future by leading responsible lives,” said Umwali, who is also an artiste.

She also counselled the girls to always be responsible over their bodies and avoid all sorts of bad behaviours that could ruin their future. 

The ‘Nimudusange’ orphans’ village has 23 families of orphans of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who look after themselves and it has a population of 72 people including four widows. 

The fundraising drive which was spearheaded by Contact FM, a local radio station got much response from the general public and it saw more than 300 people turning up to boost the morale of the orphans.

Speaking at the ceremony, the leader of the orphans’ community Donatien Musoni expressed happiness at how the people had positively responded to the fundraising drive to put a smile on the orphans’ faces.

He however, said that they were facing a challenge of lack of parental guidance.

"As you can see, we are all children, but some of us have taken up the responsibility of looking after our younger siblings,” he said.

He also urged the people not to always stop at helping them materially, but to also support them morally by being near them and giving them a shoulder to lean on in times of need.

The materials that were handed over to the orphans included food stuffs and clothing.

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