Women and young girls today, still face the challenge of stigma. That is why some women and girls find it difficult to make productive decisions or even take part in leadership. This inferiority complex and stigma among Rwandan women and young girls is as a result of the traditional norms and values of the Rwandan culture. However, the governments’ policy of gender equality sensitisation has helped much to bring up back the lost confidence in women and girls. Today young girls who have taken lead in fighting their stigma are now in leadership positions consequently representing other girls. As the saying goes, “leaders are born not made.” Today I bring you a young girl leader. In our interview, she is going to tell us how she managing to lead her fellow pupils in the academic year 2006-2008 at her school. Chaka: Young leader can you introduce your self to our readers? Debora: My name is Debora Mutoni, 10 years old at Good Foundation school center for education Barija Nyagatare in the Estern province. Chaka: Which leadership post are you holding at your school? Deborah: I am the head girl. Chaka: That is good. For how long have served as a head girl? Deborah: I have served since 2006. Chaka: What are your duties as a head girl? Deborah: My duties are to make sure that the classrooms are clean. Pupils go for assembly in time and encourage children to keep clean. Chaka: As a head girl, how do you promote personal hygiene in your school? Deborah: I promote personal hygiene by encouraging children to bath every day, cut their nails, trim their hair, wash and iron their uniforms and brush their teeth every morning. Comment: I think that brief interaction with Deborah proves that she is a leader. Leadership skills in children should be developed while they are still young. Teachers or parents who deny children the right to participate in different fields should know that children’s talents develop by giving them room to try. In our children are hidden treasures. They need to be helped develop so that they can achieve their dreams. Its holiday time and so create room for the children to do activities of their choice. By so doing, you shall help them to discover what is with in them. Ends
