The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolee Uwimana, has praised the compassion and dedication of the country’s Malayika Murinzi (Guardian angels), families that took on the responsibility of raising orphaned children, especially following the closure of orphanages in Rwanda in 2013. ALSO READ: Malayika Murinzi: Celebrating the ‘guardian angels’ helping raise abandoned children During a national event held on Friday, May 30, Uwimana recognized the critical role these guardians played in restoring hope and dignity to abandoned children. It marked the second national celebration of guardianship by the exceptional caregivers. “We recognize your kindness, your courage, your parental love, receiving abandoned children and raising them without any expectations in return, giving them a home, parental care and love, family, their rights like all other children,” said Uwimana. “You are a true definition of what a Rwandan citizen should be; you are what our culture encourages us to be.” She recalled that, by tradition, Rwandan society did not have abandoned children. “Even when a child lost parents, responsibilities remained in their extended families and the society, rather than the child becoming family-less or a street child,” she said. Uwimana emphasized that the first orphanage in Rwanda, established in 1974 in Nyundo, Rubavu District, signalled a deviation from traditional parenting responsibilities. It still poses challenges today, she added, as some children continue to be denied the right to grow up in a family due to the neglect of parental duties. “No child could be abandoned,” she said. “Families and neighbours would come together and choose someone to care for the child. Today, we have made efforts to restore that tradition and ensure the physical, emotional, and social well-being of every child. However, more needs to be done to eliminate the barriers that still hinder children’s well-being.” Among those barriers, she listed family conflicts, drug abuse, defilement, child labour, and child abuse, urging collective action to address them. ALSO READ: Malayika Murinzi: A testimony of sympathy and compassion Held under the theme “Treat every child as your own,” the celebration emphasized shared responsibility in nurturing children. Assumpta Ingabire, the Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), called for community engagement and vigilance in protecting vulnerable children. “If you see a child suffering or abandoned in your community, and you cannot help directly, at least report the case to the relevant organizations,” said Ingabire. “Give a home to those without one, so they have the chance to grow up in a loving, supportive environment.” She encouraged full adoption as the preferred option where feasible, over other forms of guardianship. Ingabire praised the compassion and commitment shown by Malayika Murinzi families since the orphanage closure policy was implemented, calling on society to reflect on its role in raising the next generation. ALSO READ: Giving a child a home: What you need to know about adoption in Rwanda Guardian families shared moving testimonies of transformation, thanking the government for creating opportunities for abandoned children to grow up in families. Jean-Baptiste Serugendo, a guardian from Kintarure Village in Shyira Sector, Nyabihu District, speaking on behalf of guardians from the Western Province, said: “We received our children willingly and raised them alongside our own. “They see us as their parents, and today, they are youth that fit our country’s vision. Raising children without families does not require wealth, it takes heart, love, and the mindset to help.” He thanked the government for the initiative to reintegrate abandoned children into families and for the continuous support provided through trainings and guidance. ALSO READ: New ministerial order on child adoption: What you need to know Odile Umutoni, a guardian from Gacyamo cell in Gitega Sector, Nyarugenge District, echoed the same gratitude. She said: “With the support and guidance from institutions, we raised these children in family settings where they are properly nurtured. It is fulfilling to see them graduate, start their own families, and work in Rwanda and abroad.” She emphasized the importance of willing hearts and shared responsibility, adding that such gatherings serve as moments to reflect on their collective achievements. “Let us avoid family conflicts and child abuse. Let us care for our children and others in our communities, as our own.”
