Blooming Buds Primary School last Friday joined the rest of the world to celebrate International Women’s Day through engaging in several humanitarian activities aimed at helping needy women.

"The rest of the world celebrated Women’s Day on March 8, but we have decided to commemorate it today.

Parents at the school came up with this idea and we agreed that helping needy women with essential items was a vital step as far as dignifying the value of women is concerned,” said Grace Milcah, the headmistress.

"We picked 16 women from Sisters of Charity organisation who are former sex workers and donated to them essential basic materials they can’t afford such as like sanitary pads, clothes, shoes, towels and soap.” Sisters of Charity is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to helping vulnerable people.

Christelle Muvunyi Bakuru, an advisor to the state minister in the ministry of health, welcomed the gesture, saying the 16 beneficiaries could be used to mobilise others women to abandon the vice and engage in more productive activities.

Joyeuse Uwingeneye, a parent at the school said: "As parents, we wanted to show our fellow women how much we value them as a sign of solidarity.”

Francine Mukankubana, one of the beneficiaries who was a prostitute for four years, thanked the school for the gifts but urged the community to do more to help other women still trapped in the vice.

"On the street we used to also take drugs and engage in illegal activities. Fortunately, the Sisters of Charity took us from the street and here we are leading a better life,” she said.