Holiday: Kids share experiences at Mutesi Kids Park

Lorene Akimana, 9, is busy driving his lane rover (a kid’s sports car) at Mutesi Kids Park ground based in Kicukiro District. This is around 10a.m during a short break before he and others return to class where they are learning Chinese. Akimana is a Primary Four pupil at Umubano School in Kigali. He says he is proud to engage in sports and learn a new language this holiday. “I am proud to learn a new language. I will tell my friends the good news when I return to school,”he says. The kids’ park offers special holiday services for children to nurture their talents. The children learn traditional dances, cha-cha-cha dances, belly dances, and Kung Fu, among others. Children driving toy bikes / By Frederic Byumvuhore. Sonia Iradukunda, 10, who is in Primary Three at Kigali Parents School, is interested in learning the modern dance to be able to dance like her favourite celebrities. Carine Ingabire, an official at Mutesi Kids Park, says they look after children when their parents go to work. She says it is more productive to have children at the park instead of leaving them at home unsure of what happens in their absence. “The children are equipped with general knowledge on culture as well as learning new sports activities. Currently, the country is hosting many people from all over the world; that’s why we chose to teach children Chinese language,”she says. Silas Habimana, a teacher at the centre, says many children are more interested in learning Chinese and Kungu Fu. Parenting and education experts advise parents to engage their children in productive pass-time activities during the holiday as it guarantees their safety, improves their social skills and gives them a good avenue to learn new things.