NGO to give university scholarships

Rwamagana–Compassion International, a faith-based organisation that helps needy children, has launched a programme to sponsor students to university.As a precursor to the launch, a team of well wishers from the Netherlands over the past week took part in a 42 kilometre marathon in Kigali.Once effective, the programme will ensure that all students sponsored by the organisation in secondary school will be facilitated to continue to university.Currently, the body only selects very few students who complete secondary studies to proceed to higher education on their scholarships. Theo van den Heuvel, the head of the Dutch delegation, revealed that the implementation of the scheme was at an advanced stage.“Over 3,000 Dutch people mobilised 400,000 Euros to support needy students under Compassion (International’s) support in universities in Rwanda and Uganda. The marathon was part of the awareness campaign,” he noted.“Rwanda is a beautiful country with beautiful people...it has supported our programmes. It will be the country to support others in future, due to its high level of society organisation.”Eugene Muriga of Compassion International-Rwanda, said that his organisation partners with churches to provide Rwandan children with the opportunity to rise above their circumstances.“Over 50,000 children have been supported by Compassion International in Rwanda...we intend to extend this support up to university level. The number we can support will depend on available funds. Remember ours is holistic child development,” said Muriga.Jean d’Arc Mukeshimana, a student at the National University of Rwanda and a beneficiary of the NGO, stated that higher education support was long overdue. She added that the support would enable beneficiaries to compete in the job market.“If it was not for Compassion, I wouldn’t be a university student...my background was very humble and the death of my mother compounded my misery. I will help the needy with every coin I will be earning after my education.” Compassion International started operating in Rwanda in 1980.