Child Friendly School project launched

BY EDWARD K. MWESIGYE EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA: The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)-Rwanda has launched a ‘Child Friendly School’ project to cater for children with disability and the needy. Rwanda ADRA Country Director, Daniel dos Santor said two important items; empowerment and dream, were are crucial for the sustainability of the project. “Persons with disability should not be under-looked but empowered. They need to be empowered so as to develop themselves and the nation,” Santor said while officially launching the project at Hotel DEREVA in Rwamagana. Santor explained that ADRA had the dream that every child must attend school two years ago and thought of establishing the ‘Child Friendly School’ project. “I came across a lady who explained the ordeal of her child with disability. And, because of the state of her son’s disability she could not find any school for her in the whole country,” he explained. Dative Mukashema, a Senior One student at Gahini SS, who neither hear nor see recited a poem using signs through an interpreter. Her massage in the poem left every participant in near tears. Ivan Niyiguha, the project coordinator said 20 schools from districts of Rwamagana, Kirehe, Ngoma, Kayonza, Bugesera, Rulindo and Gasabo will act as models in the 2-year pilot study. Niyiguha explained that the project is being supported by government and Unicef while ADRA implements it. Hon. Innocent Twagirayezu, representative of the disabled persons in Parliament reminded participants that disability is not inability and emphasized that all Rwandans have equal rights regardless of physical form. The district Director of Education, Daniel Karinganire, presided over the function.

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Child Friendly School project launched