GATSIBO - Two hundred sixty two residents of Muhura Sector, in Gatsibo District who successfully completed 15-months training in literacy skills, graduated on Tuesday. The training was facilitated and financed by an Italian NGO, AVSI which operates in the district. Speaking at the ceremony which coincided with celebrations to mark the International Literacy Day, Laurette Birara, who represented AVSI, advised the graduates to always utilise their newly acquired skills, for self advancement. “When you don’t keep practicing what you learnt, it becomes easy for one to forget…we shall help you by providing books and newspapers in your respective areas to enable you to inculcate a good reading culture,” she said. Berthilde Nyirambarushimana, 30, who received her certificate, said that being literate has helped her in many ways including managing family planning. “After acquiring literacy, I can now undertake various tasks such as being in a better position to manage family planning issues ,” she said. The Muhura Sector local leaders thanked the NGO for spearheading development of education, noting that it supplements the government’s efforts of promoting universal education. The leaders requested AVSI to help them complete the construction of six classrooms in the sector, in support of the nine- year Basic Education programme. Ends