The world over ensuring that girls join and stay in school is one of the biggest hurdles in pursuit of education for all under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Cultural and socio-economic challenges have been cited as the major hindrance for the girl-child education, especially in the rural areas. However, there is a success story in the case of Rwanda in terms of empowering girls through education. This success story is the model that Imbuto Foundation has used over the last 10 years to ensure that girls are facilitated and empowered to equally compete with males in the education system. Over the last 10 years, Imbuto Foundation has set an example as a role model in promoting girls education, dramatically changing the lives of the girl child. In national exams, we have seen more girls emerging among the best performers in the country. Many of these girls have been nurtured under the Imbuto Foundation to become role models in their respective communities. On Sunday, over 2,000 girls who had been previously awarded for their top academic performance by the Imbuto Foundation were hosted to a special event to celebrate 10 years of inspiring Rwandan girls to excel in school at Petit Stade in Remera, in Kigali. As we celebrate this milestone, other stakeholders in education should pick a leaf from Imbuto Foundation to have more girls empowered. Like Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, the founder and President of Imbuto Foundation, said during the celebrations, we should reflect on key lessons learned from the Imbuto campaign. And one of the lessons learned, she pointed out, are that a little encouragement goes a long way in positively shaping a girl’s life, and that there is power in networking. Let us join hands and emulate the good efforts of Imbuto Foundation to consolidate the gains achieved in empowering the girl child.
