New project to support children in Southern Province

HUYE-A non governmental organisation, François-Xavier Bagnoud International (FXB), Rwanda Chapter, on Wednesday launched a three-year project seeks to support children in eight districts of the country.The USAID-funded Turengere Abana (Let us protect children) project aims to improve the lives of children in rural areas and empower vulnerable families to respond to the needs of their children by helping them initiate income generating projects.Launching the project in Huye, Damascene Ndayisaba, FXB country Director said over $2.7 million is set to be spent on support programmes in its zones of operations.Under the project, children-beneficiaries in nursery, primary and secondary schools will receive scholastic materials, uniforms and school fees to ensure that they access education. The youth who have dropped out of school will also be given opportunity to pursue technical and vocational training, officials said. Ndayisaba explained that vulnerable families will also be economically empowered to take charge of the needs of their children.“Addressing the challenges facing children requires empowering their families. If you help a family to grow, you automatically contribute to the wellbeing of children,” Ndayisaba noted.Over 1,200 families are set to benefit from the project, the official said.They will benefit from skills development programmes and financial support to implement income generating activities to sustain their families.Other districts to benefit from the project are Nyanza, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge among others.“Building strong and stable families will allow children to grow in a better environment, giving them an opportunity to grow well physically and intellectually,” Ndayisaba noted.Huye vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs Christine Niwemugeni told The New Times that local leaders will work closely with the organisation to ensure that residents benefit from the project.Beneficiaries of the project in Huye district, who are all residents of the rural Kaburemera village in Ngoma sector, were selected with the help of local leaders, according to Niwemugeni.In total 100 households in the village will be supported during the first year of operation while another equal number will be supported the following year.