Performance contracts for strong family values

Last month, government initiated a program to sensitize the population about the need for family members to be responsible in their homes as a way of strengthening cultural and family values. Championed by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) in collaboration with other developing partners especially the media, the move is also aimed at building family as the foundation of the nation. According to the Minister of Gender, Aloisea Inyumba, some of the challenges experienced in families, are a result of some members loosing touch with their culture. The Minister explains that from that background, some family members especially parents disown their responsibilities like taking care or providing for their children in terms of food, health care and education among others. She points out that such tendencies have increased the number of street children in Kigali city and in orphanages. “Some of the children in orphanages around the country have at least a parent, but they can not easily or willingly come out to take over responsibility,” Inyumba says. She explains that the campaign should bring lasting solutions or changes to ensure that families take full responsibility of providing for children as well as taking care of mothers especially during pregnancy. Among other activities and steps taken, family performance contracts have been introduced where family heads pledge or make commitments of what they expect to achieve in a given period of time. Although some parents who spoke to Sunday Times admit that there is need to bridge existing gaps between them and their children, others say that group influence has also played a significant role in making children loose touch with families. “Yes, I am aware that some parents spend most of their time at work especially in cities like Kigali, but it is also true that while some parents have taken measures to ensure proper care of their childrean, some end-up taken by activities they see fellow youths engage in,” said Joseph Karangwa, a business man dealing in second hand shoes at Nyabugogo. Karangwa, a father of two says that children especially those above 18 years of age should also take personal responsibility given the busy schedule of their parents. “The standard of living in towns is high. It is therefore challenging to us as parents to take most of our time with children, the reason we get maids to cater for home affairs which also includes children,” he says. However, the 35 year old Karangwa says that he feels like spending at least two hours with his family during the day, but it’s not possible except on a Sunday. Although most of the parents interviewed said work takes most of their time during the day, Goreth Uwimana, a restaurant operator in Remera said that it is equally important always to spare some time to attend to the children. “I do not mean that I am the best parent as far as attending to children is concerned, but based on the effects caused by parents’ little concern or absence in our families, fellow parents must take action to ensure that our children grow up in the right direction,” Uwimana says. “Children behave the way they want; they even listen and watch movies that are not fit for them and this is so destructive,” she says. She points out that although parents trust maids, sometimes the maids are also not capable of doing everything in a home without supervision and adds that some children do not respect maids. Ends