In her International Women’s Day message, First Lady Jeannette Kagame has called upon Rwandan women to be the heart of the family and the country.

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In a written message shared on Imbuto Foundation’s X, Mrs. Kagame expressed gratitude "to all Rwandan women who continue to demonstrate resilience, virtue, self-respect and patriotism,” noting that she is aware of their dedication and contribution to building capable and secure families.

"May our goal continue to be to strengthening our unity and being the heart of the family! In particular, let us be the heart of Rwanda. Let us continue to be the catalyst for positive change that our country is committed to,” she said.

At national level, International Women’s Day was celebrated in Ngororero District where the Speaker of Parliament, MP Gertrude Kazarwa, assured women of strong collaboration in tackling persistent challenges that hinder their progress.

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"We acknowledge the obstacles that still limit women’s development, including limited access to financial resources, misconceptions about gender equality, women’s predominance in unpaid labour, lack of confidence in engaging with financial institutions, and the low number of women venturing into income-generating businesses,” she said.

As part of the day’s celebrations, various support initiatives were rolled out to uplift vulnerable families in Matyazo and Hindiro area of the district. Beneficiaries received 10 cows, 268 goats, 1,700 chickens, 76 water tanks (each with a 1,000-liter capacity), 106 modern cooking stoves, and food supplies for families whose crops had been damaged.