Sleeping Children Around the World, a charitable organisation based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, teamed up with the Rotary Club Kigali Virunga (RCKV) to make a donation aimed at improving the lives of children who come from poor families in Rwanda. This collaborative effort involves the distribution of 5,000 bed kits to children in need across five districts in Rwanda, namely Kamonyi, Gicumbi, Rwamagana, Bugesera, and Gasabo.
The distribution commenced on Monday, October 2, and is scheduled to conclude on October 4.
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The recipients of these donations are children aged between 6 and 12, with an equal distribution of 50 per cent girls and 50 per cent boys. Each child received a bed kit containing essential items such as a mattress, bedsheets, blankets, clothing, and shoes, a school bag filled with books, a mosquito net, and a plastic bath basin.
The distribution process was a collaborative effort, with the team from Sleeping Children Around the World working alongside volunteers from the Rotary Club Kigali Virunga and district officials to ensure that these essential kits reached the children who needed them most.
Fred Bushayija, Corporate Services Division Manager of Kamonyi District, expressed his appreciation for the initiative, saying: "Producing bed kits was done locally, providing employment for dozens of workers. We also contributed to the selection of kids to receive them and made sure that they go to the families who needed them the most. The districts benefiting from this obviously appreciate it because these kits are not that affordable to everyone."
In a press interview, Dr Doug MacDougald, the head of travelling volunteers from Sleeping Children Around the World, said: "The charity we represent has a 53-year history of distributing more than 1.7 million bed kits. These kits include mattresses, mosquito nets, school clothing, bedding, and various school supplies, benefiting children in over 30 countries across the globe."
"For this, our first trip and distribution to Rwanda, we're partnering with the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga and distributing 5,000 bed kits in the different districts here in Rwanda. The impact that the bed kits have includes better sleep, mosquito nets for protection, and, thus, a better ability to learn at school, all based on a good night's sleep,” he said.
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"The bed kits are donated by donors primarily in Canada, and we volunteer our time at no cost. So, 100 per cent of the money that's donated for the bed kits goes to the child and their family. We just hope this makes a better life for these kids, and we'll be back next year because we know there's a need for more," MacDougald said.
Livingstone Nkuusi, President of RCKV, explained, "These bed kits contain 10 essential items that enable a child to have a good night's sleep and attend school with renewed energy in the morning. Our club is committed to additional initiatives aimed at assisting impoverished families in affording essential items. We initiated this effort in Gicumbi, but we have plans to expand it to other districts. Our focus is on equipping them with the skills to establish small businesses that can generate income for their families."
Jacqueline Mukanyandwi, a mother of one of the children who received a bed kit in Kamonyi District, expressed her gratitude, saying: "In our neighbourhood, most of the kids either sleep on really old mattresses or mats, so this is a tremendous help. As parents, we're delighted that our children will now have better sleep, which may positively impact their school performance. A well-rested child tends to think more clearly throughout the day."