KICUKIRO - Having separated from their parents in 2007, on Friday, two boys and two girls from Mpore-PEFA orphanage in Gikondo Sector, Kicukiro District, joined their family.

The youngest is 11 while the eldest is 16 years old.

Speaking to Sunday Times, the children were so excited they were going out to start a new life with their family members.

"Today is a landmark and a beginning of a new life. Am really happy and grateful that I will meet my family members especially my mother who has finally managed to come out and take us home,” said 16 year old Mussa Mukotanyi, one of the children.

In their speeches, all the children appreciated commitment by district authorities, orphanage leadership and Hope and Homes for Children Rwanda, an NGO that is working with the Gender Ministry to identify and reunite children with their family members.

In his speech, the NGO representative, Epaphrodite Nsabimana, said the NGO targets February next year to have reunited the remaining 23 children with their families.

Nsabimana said that since January, 30 children from the same orphanage have been reunited with their families adding that measures are being undertaken to ensure that the same can be done in the various orphanages countrywide.
 
Benilde Uwababyeyi, a Child Protection Specialist at the Gender Ministry, called upon parents and family members to come out willingly and take up their responsibilities by getting children out of orphanages.

"As parents, it’s a shame to deny our children their rights. It’s therefore important to note that no child is left in these orphanages especially when someone out there can give support,” Uwababyeyi said.

Another child, Roger Shyaka who had also been in the orphanage for 10 years was taken out by his older brother who also grew up in the same orphanage.
 
The head of the Orphanage, Anonciata Bamurange, encouraged the children and called for maximum discipline as they join other family members.

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