Over 300 children from across the country were treated to a fun annual End of Year Children’s Party by the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, at Village Urugwiro, on Saturday, December 16. By 9 am, children were partaking in diverse games including bouncy castle, trampling, cycling, running, basketball, and wood cube puzzles. ALSO READ: Kagame, First Lady host children's end of year party There were many toys like cars, teddy bears, and others that the younger children of about five years preferred to play with. Other children were seen reading storybooks, painting, drawing on cardboards, and singing. With snacks and drinks on their display, they crunched and sipped away. ALSO READ: First Lady hosts End of Year Children’s Party, calls for greater ambition The youngsters were excited by the 3D books effect using the 3D glasses. While some children were delighted by acrobats, others were in queues waiting to get face painted. Face painting was the most popular activity of the day as many children were engrossed by the ornament in others’ faces that they just couldn’t wait to be painted as well. The children utilized the photo booth as one by one paused for a photo moment as an individual, with friends, parents, and district representatives. Apart from games, kids were entertained by their colleagues in karate, dance, and music. Afrobeat and RnB singer, Peace Jolis performed three songs as the youngsters sang along in amusement and cheer. The Gisimba kids’ choir applauded the audience with their angelic voices as well. Afterward, a few children, Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, and Marie-Solange Kayisire, the Minister of State for Local Government joined the First Lady to cut the cake. Mrs. Kagame handed gifts to kids including soccer balls, scholastic materials such as bags, mathematical sets, textbooks, and colored pencils, among other items like skipping ropes, raincoats, and others. 11-year-old Ibrahim Hitimana, a student at Ecole Primaire Intwari, Nyamirambo is one of the kids who had the best moment at the party. He said that it was his first time at Village Urugwiro, and the day turned out to be just as exciting as he expected. “I remember my father breaking the good news to me about the party on Wednesday 13, I was so anxious. I kept looking at the watch but finally, the long-awaited day came with surprises,” Hitimana noted. One of his greatest excitements is meeting the first lady, and receiving gifts from her. For 11-year-old Irene Kamikazi, her favorite games were trampoline and bouncy castle. She stressed that giving a chance, space, and games to children not only keeps them active but also their right. She appreciates having such an opportunity to be among the chosen kids’ representatives in the country and looks forward to hanging out with her new friends sometime soon. Lenather Mukamuhizi, a mother of three, whose children attended the party noted that it was an honor for the youngsters to unveil their talents to the First Lady, and have a chance to even meet her in person. “Children to meet the First Lady is an indicator of how our leaders relate with the citizens.” The party concluded with lunch and interaction sessions.
