Imbuto awards girls in Southern Province

The Imbuto Foundation followed up its girls’ education promotion activities and rewarded another group of 38 top female students in Kamonyi, Muhanga and Ruhango Districts in the Southern Province.The programme which is inspired by the First Lady, Jeanette Kagame, kicked off last week on International Women’s’ Day in Kayonza District, Eastern Province, and has since its inception awarded a total of 2,584 girls for excelling in academic performance.During the awarding ceremony, Imbuto lined up the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Julienne Munyaneza, as a role model that young girls can look up to for inspiration.“The sky is the limit for the girl child. You should have confidence and believe in yourself and focus on your studies to become good leaders who are innovative and inspiring to the nation,” Munyaneza told the students.“Some of you pity yourselves because you come from poor families or because you are orphans. I am here to assure you that the moment you focus, you will succeed and the government will help you in all ways”.In an interview with The Sunday Times, she noted that Rwandan women would not simply settle to celebrating Women’s Day on a single day but the celebration would be extended to cover a month in order to cause real impact.“International Women’s Day is just a drop in the ocean; we have a lot of work to do and one day is not enough. That is why we mark March as the beginning of Rwandan Women and Girls’ Month to carry out activities that can have real impact on women,” she said.This year’s International Women’s Day was celebrated under the theme: “Empower Women and Girls to Sustain Families.”Venantia Tugireyezu, the Minister in the Presidents Office and chief guest at the function, congratulated the successful girls and urged them to keep the flame burning.“Success at school goes hand-in-hand with self discipline. The laptops and textbooks you have received today must be used well to facilitate you achieve your dream. Other girls must be inspired by your commitment to study and also perform well,” she noted.Under its Malayika Murinzi Campaign, Imbuto Foundation also offered cows and medals to six elders in the Southern Province for caring orphans.