MUHANGA - An official of the Fund for Assistance of Rwanda Genocide survivors (FARG) has called on orphaned students to focus on education as the key to forging a brighter future.

The FARG education officer, Anita Ndayisaba, made the remarks yesterday, while addressing Muhanga Genocide survivor students who are undergoing a five-day vacation camp in Nyamabuye Sector.

"It’s clear that the Genocide robbed you of everything you had in life,” she said.

"Education is the only investment for a Genocide survivor to count on for a good life in future. Survivors should use this opportunity to be able to survive in this competitive era which requires good education.”

Ndayisaba urged the students to work towards excellence in school, ensure discipline and become exemplary in everything they do.

Muhanga vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Fortunee Mukagatana, said that the students at the camp would be enlightened on how to  make use of existing government organs handling issues of Genocide survivors, such as FARG, CNLG (National Commission for the fight against Genocide), IBUKA (umbrella organization for Geocide survivors’ associations) and their role in the development of the country.

Mukagatana noted that survivors need to be mindful of the benefits of such organs, which include advocacy for survivors, implementation of a policy to support survivors and fight against Genocide.

"This camp will be beneficial to the students because most of the survivors don’t have parents to guide and advise them,” Mukagatana said.

The participants raised various issues ranging from the lack of accommodation, especially for those studying away from their home districts, to lack of access to alternative education for those who score low grades.

Ends