The Global Fund has donated $37 million to support vulnerable children, especially those infected and affected by HIV/Aids, through a project coordinated by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion.

The project, which started in 2008 in 10 districts, will now expand, covering the whole country.

"We will support over 60,000 needy students both in primary and secondary schools, through paying their school fees, getting scholastic materials as well as supporting the 5,000 caregivers,” said Gatuku Ndagijimana, from the Gender Ministry.

Caregivers are people who have voluntarily taken the responsibility of taking care of vulnerable children across the country and according to Gatuku, the support is aimed at empowering them to be able to take care of these children even in future.

"Through cooperatives, we have encouraged caregivers to start income generating activities, so we shall boost their activities,” he said.

A countrywide vetting of students to benefit from this assistance is ongoing.

Through the project, the vulnerable students who complete vocational school will get capital or equipment to start income generating projects.

The five-year project will end in 2013.

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