ADRA donates special needs education materials

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency-Rwanda [ADRA] last week donated special-needs equipments worth $35,000 approximately Fr63 million to schools of children with disabilities. The equipments were donated to 20 schools under Child Friendly Project that are sponsored by ADRA in conjunction with United Nations agency-UNICEF. Child Friendly Project operates in twenty pilot schools in the Districts of Rwamagana, Kirehe, Ngoma, Kayonza, Bugesera, Rulindo and Gasabo. “Each of the 20 schools has been given equipments including brail machines, brailing papers, assessment tools and all other equipments necessary in the training of persons with disabilities,” Ivan Niyiguha, the project coordinator said in an interview with The New Times after the ceremony at Ecoles des Infirmiers.The ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, ADRA, District officials, Teachers and Parent representatives. Niyiguha revealed that the donation followed one-month training in children special needs of center coordinating teachers from the recipient schools. In his brief remarks, the ADRA country Director, Daniel dos Santor, stressed the need to empower persons with disabilities through education. He called for the sustainability of the Child Friendly School project in the country. During the same ceremony the trained teachers also graduated and were awarded certificates. Ester Nandudu, the Project Manager, thanked the trainees for enduring all the difficulties encountered during the training and appealed to them to extend the skills and knowledge obtained to other fellow teachers. She revealed that similar equipments were available for lending to other neighboring schools that may need them. Ends