EASTERN PROVINCE

GATSIBO — World Vision has trained community volunteers from Gitoki sector in Gatsibo district to monitor children under their sponsorship.

During the two-day workshop held last week at Agasha Recreation, in Kabarore sector, participants were trained how to respond appropriately to the needs of children.

Benilda Bonishuli in charge of the sponsorship programme for registered children, urged the participants to make constant visits to schools and homes in order to interact more with the children. She said this would help them monitor the general health and academic progress of the children.

She cautioned parents against abdicating their parental responsibility to support organisations.

"Please be our torch bearers and engage people in your respective cells; by reminding them of their responsibilities as parents to guide their children in matters of upbringing," Bonishuli said.

She attributed poor academic performance of pupils to negligence of parents, high levels of illiteracy among parents, and lack of guidance.

In the mean time, participants shared their experiences and laid down strategies on how to approach parents with a uniform message.

"Some parents really do not know how to handle and discipline their children. Some of them end up abusing their children’s rights ignorantly," Said Stephanie Nyiramajyambere, one of the participants from Cyabusheshe cell.

Moise Mutabazi, the area World Vision official in charge of capacity building commended the volunteers for their role in monitoring children. He promised that World Vision would find ways of helping them set up income generating projects to uplift their economic status.

"We want them to choose one activity which we can support financially and offer guidance," Mutabazi said.

The children benefiting from the aid are enrolled in Cyabusheshe, Nyakayaga, Nyamirama, and Gakiri primary schools in Gitoki sector. In Kabarore. World Vision also sponsors students in Bihinga, Nyarubuye, Nyabikiriri, Ruhaha and Kibondo primary schools.

It distributed scholastic materials to 2,080 children under their care this semester which included 180,000 books, 80,000 pens and 700 mathematical sets in the two sectors of Kabarore and Gitoki.

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