UNICEF-Rwanda yesterday received a £162,681,083 donation from Barclays Bank employees to help disadvantaged children in Rwanda.

The donation was handed over by the two Barclay’s employees’ representatives; Nick Salisbury and Jennifer Ollerenshaw, in a ceremony held at UNICEF country headquarters in Kacyiru.

In his remarks, the UNICEF representative to Rwanda, Dr Joseph Foumbi, welcomed the assistance, which he said would help many disadvantaged children in Rwanda.

According to Foumbi, UNICEF will use the donation in its efforts to strengthen the quality of education in the country by creating model child friendly schools hence fostering learning and reducing school dropout and repetition rates.

"Through this kind of partnership, we can make Rwanda a child friendly country. The good thing with Rwanda is the fact that it has a lot of opportunities championed by good leadership of the country,” said Foumbi.

He added that during their stay in the country, the two would learn a lot on the possibilities and what is needed to be done as far as child education promotion and development is concerned.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow Barclays employees, Ollerenshaw explained that the funds were raised from the Bank’s sponsored fundraising walks in the United Kingdom branded Barclays Step into the Night.

According to Foumbi, the Barclays-UNICEF partnership has helped generate funds to provide opportunities for young disadvantaged people around the world to survive and thrive.

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