Musanze – Female students should desist from any form of handouts designed to distract them from their education, a top government official has said.Addressing a group of students and parents from the districts of Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu, yesterday, Deputy Chief Justice, Zainabo Kayitesi, called on school girls not to give in to cheap gifts that could not only jeopardise their education but also ruin their future."Your life is in your hands, the decisions you make today will determine what you will be tomorrow. Keep your hands off cheap gifts that lure you into bad habits, you have to value your lives,” Kayitesi said.The function was organised by Imbuto Foundation as part of the continued exercise to reward schools girls who passed with flying colours in the last Senior Six examinations and parents who have exhibited high levels of integrity by looking after orphans.A group of 45 top female Senior Six finalists from the three districts were awarded under the auspices of First Lady Jeannette Kagame’s initiative that seeks to promote girls’ education.Kayitesi asked the awarded students to utilise their ‘Forum of Excellency’ and encourage other female peers in school to work hard.One of the top beneficiaries from Musanze, Fanny Giraneza, who scored 3As (in Biology, Chemistry and Maths), attributed her recent success to the Imbuto Foundation’s previous rewards she received at the Ordinary Level."That gave me more confidence; I was able to be the best in Sciences because when the First Lady rewarded me for my S.3 success, I committed to working harder at A’ Level. Girls can also excel in any discipline,” said Giraneza, who intends to do Medicine at the university. The students received certificates of merit, laptops, bags, watches and Rwf20, 000, in cash, to help them open savings accounts in banks. The ‘Forum of Excellency’ is a students’ association initiated in ten schools, and comprising best female students who have been awarded by Mrs Kagame.Imbuto Foundation has, since its inception, awarded a total of 2,584 female students for their academic excellence. Meanwhile, under the auspices of the Malayika Murinzi (Guardian Angel) programme, another brainchild of the Imbuto Foundation, six elders from the three districts received cows and certificates as an appreciation for their exemplary parenthood."I believed that my reward would be in heaven, I’m truly overwhelmed this way while still on earth... I thought I was merely carrying out my responsibility as a parent. Taking care of the young ones is something every parent should really do,” said Collette Mukasala.The campaign is part of the activities to mark Rwandan Women and Girls’ Month, which is being celebrated under the theme: "Empower women and girls to sustain families.”The month was launched by the First Lady on Month 8 during the celebrations to mark International Women’s Day.