The Chinese embassy in Kigali has offered scholarships worth $30,900 (about Rwf23m) to sponsor 103 well-performing but disadvantaged youth in the country.

The deal meant to run until end of 2017 will be implemented through Imbuto Foundation to enable beneficiaries complete their secondary school education.

This was announced yesterday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the embassy and Imbuto Foundation at the Chinese embassy in Kigali.

The MoU that came into effect immediately after the signing yesterday evening, has possibility of renewal on agreement by both parties, who have been in partnership for the past 4 years.

This sponsorship is supposed to cater for students in boarding schools.

According to the MoU, after the embassy provides the money, Imbuto Foundation will be responsible for ensuring that funds provided are utilised strictly in accordance with requirements outlined in this agreement, reporting to the embassy any change that occurs with the recipients of this scholarship as soon as reasonably possible in order to ensure that the number of students that it sponsors remains at about 103 and facilitating the visits of the embassy to sponsored students at their school location.

Imbuto will also be responsible for confirming that sponsored students continue to meet the sponsorship criteria, pay school fees for them in a timely manner to enable school attendance without interruption, and provide them with scholastic materials and health insurance.

Urujeni Bakuramutsa, the Director General of Imbuto Foundation said the partnership will tremendously help these well-performing scholars complete their secondary education and be better equipped to access future socio-economic opportunities, that will contribute to the development of this nation.

"This partnership is very important for us especially for the Rwandan child. In Rwanda we believe that education is key for sustainable development. So by enabling these children to finish high school we are providing them a better and sustainable future where they will be able to thrive,” she said, adding that the partnership is a long lasting one and has prospect of expansion.

Pan Hejun the Ambassador of China to Rwanda said this 4 year-long partnership with Imbuto Foundation is part of the Africa-China People to People Exchange that is within a broader strategy to promote the friendship between China and African countries.

"Today we are very pleased that Imbuto Foundation and the Chinese embassy can sign this MoU. We are doing various kinds of corporation projects in manufacturing, agriculture, ICT, infrastructure, energy among others but people to people exchange in education and health is very important corporations. Just like Imbuto means the seeds, we must plant seeds, water them, nurture them and they will grow up. This is very important for the country’s future because there is always need for young educated and talented people,” he said. The ambassador also commended Imbuto Foundation, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, for being a reliable organisation, which continues to design and implement innovative programmes in health, education, youth and economic empowerment.

"Imbuto have been working very efficiently and we believe they will provide us with all the details of the funding. We worked with them through the years and have already built up trust between each other,” he said.

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